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THE 


ACTA  PILATI. 

important  testimony  of  pontius  pilate, 
recently  discovered, 

Being  his  Official  Report  to  the  Empekor  Tiberius, 
concerning  the 

CEUCIFIXION  OF  CHKIST. 


EDITED  BY 

REV.  GEO.  SLUTER,  A.  M . , 

Lute  Secretarj'  Missions,  Presbj^terian  Synod  of  Missouri. 


SOLD    ONLY    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 


SHELBYVILLE,  IND.: 
M.  B.  ROBINS,  PUBLISHER  AND  PRINTER. 

187!). 


COPYEIGHT,  1879, 

By  GEORGE    SLUTER. 

All  Rights  Reserved. 


The  Certified  copy  of  the  original  text  is  usfed  by  contract  with  the 
proprietor. 


TO  ALL 

who  love  the  Truth, 

search  after  it, 

and  are  willing  to  abide  by  it, 

Catholic  or  Protestant, 

within  or  without  the  Church,— 

with  the  earnest  hope  that  it  may  lead  to  a 

deep  and  true  devotioxi  to  Jesus, 

This  Contribution 

to  the  Historical  Evidence  for  the  Divine  Origin  of  Cliristianity, 

is  respectfully 

Dedicated 

by 

THE  EDITOR. 


"  This  is  the  religious  cinestion  of  the  age.  We  rejoi:-e  in  it, 
and  thank  the  infidel  t-iographers  of  Jesus  for  having  urged  It 
upon  the  world." 

PHILIP  3CHAFF,  D.  D. 


PEEFACE 


My  object  iu  publishing  this  book  is  to  show  that 
the  historic  evidence  for  the  history  contained  in  the 
Gospels  is  ample  and  explicit.  If  unbelievers  demand 
heathen  testimonj^  concerning  the  origin  of  Christi- 
anity, here  it  is  in  abundance,  and  of  the  clearest  kind. 
By  glancing  through  the  Table  of  Contents  it  will  be 
seen,  that  the  testimony  of  the  Roman  procurator  is 
here  surrounded  by  many  great  writers  of  remote  an- 
tiquity. I  could  have  given  still  more,  but  these  will 
suffice  to  show  how  full  is  the  Historic  Evidence  for 
Christianity. 

It  may  perhaps  be  necessary  to  guard  the  reader 
against  supposing  this  to  be  the  spurious  or  forged 
Acta,  to  which  allusion  is  made  by  many  writers. 

The  best  and  most  complete  edition  of  these  is  that 
of  Fabricius  (Codex  Apocryphus,  Edition  1703).  A 
full  and  accurate  literal  translation  ma^^  be  found  in 
the  19th  volume  of  the  Ante-Nicene  Library,  published 


ACTA    PILATI. 


by  T.  &  T.  Clark.  Edinburgh,  1870.  They  are  cer- 
tainly spurious,  and  the  inventions  of  a  later  day. 
They  are  full  of  absurdities  and  almost  utterly  un- 
worthy of  respect.  But  the  Vatican  copy,  which  I 
here  present,  is  an  entirely  different  paper.  I  have 
carefully  examined  the  Acta  Paradosis,  3Iors,  and 
Epistolae  Pilati,  both  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  forms, 
and  I  assure  the  reader  there  is  not  a  line  or  trace  of 
similarity  between  them  and  this  document.  It  will 
speak  for  itself.  I  think  the  internal  evidence  is  such 
as  cannot  fail  to  produce  conviction  upon  careful  ex- 
amination. The  ver}^  fact  that  it  does  not  give  any- 
thing new  or  singular  is  in  favor  of  its  genuinenes  s. 
In  this  it  diff'ers  entirely  from  the  contents  of  the 
Apocryphal  writings.  It  is  interesting  also  to  notice 
the  statement  of  Pilate,  that  he  trembled,  when  Jesus 
for  the  first  time  entered  his  presence — why  did  he 
tremble?  There  was  good  reason  for  it.  He  was 
in  the  presence  of  the  Son  of  God.  Among  the  in- 
ternal evidences  of  its  genuineness  I  cannot  refrain 
from  calling  special  attention  to  what  Pilate  sa3^s  of 
the  Resurrection.  He  does  not  say  that  Jesus  arose 
from  the  dead,  but  that  his  tomb  was  found  empty. 
The  style  proves  it  to  be  the  true  Acta,  It  is  not  in 
the  corrupt  Latin  of  the  Apocrjqshal  Acta  Paradosis, 


P  BE  FACE. 


Mors,  and  EpistoL^e,  but  in  the  pure  and  glowing 
rhetoric  of  the  Classic  period  of  Roman  Literature. 

The  discovery  of  this  long  lost  testimony  of  Pilate, 
amid  the  vast  mass  of  unedited  parchments  in  the 
Vatican,  is  certainly  an  event  of  extraordinary  im- 
portance in  the  history  of  the  Christian  Evidences. 

I  would  suggest  to  the  reader,  to  study  the  text  of 
the  Acta  in  the  light  and  with  the  aid  of  the  Historic- 
al and  Critical  Notes.  They  contain  matternecessary 
to  be  understood,  and  will  richly  repay  careful  perusal. 
Indeed,  they  are  essential  to  the  completeness  of  the 
impression  to  be  produced  by  the  book. 

Its  preparation  has  been  a  source  of  great  pleasure 
and  satisfaction  to  me^  and  that  it  may  prove  of  ad- 
vantage to  others,  is  my  sincere  and  earnest  desire. 

as. 

Shelbyville,  Indiana, 
September,  1879. 


C  O  ]S^  T  E IS^  T  S 


PAGE. 

Introduction. 

How  the  Editor  came  into  possession  of  the  Document^ ]3 

Entlorsemeiit  of  the  Custodian  of  the  Vatican, 16 

This  the  most  ancient  non-biblical  testimony   about 

Christ,    17 

It  completes  the  chain  of  profane  authorities  in  re- 
gard to  the  principal  events  of  our  Saviour's  life,  17 
The  estimation  in  ivhich  the  Acta  Pilati  teas  held  by  the  Apostolic 

Fathers  and  Early  Defenders  of  Christianity^ 19 

Justin  Martyr  cited, 19 

A  sketch  of  Justin  Martyr, 20 

TertuUian  cited, 21 

The  Emperor  Tiljerius  proposes  to  enroll  Jesus  among 

the  gods,  after  reading  the  Acta, 22 

Home  cited  in  regard  to  Justin  and  TertuUian, 22 

Eusebius,  the  father  of  Church  history,  cited, 23 

The  Forgery  of  the  Original  by  the  Enemies  of  the  Christians^ 

A,  Z>.  311, 20 

The  object  to  throw  discredit  upn  Christianity, 27 

The  Value  of  the  Acta  Pilati^ 29 

It  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  Primitive  Christians,  30 
It  was  originally  a  State  Paper  of  the  Roman  Govern- 
ment,      30 


CONTENTS.  9 


Lord  Beaconsfield  cited, 32 

The  Vatican  Manuscript  Treasures  sedulously  guard- 
ed,   33 

Through  the  influence  of  the  Acta  Pilati  Tiberius  re- 
frained from  persecuting  the  Church  in  its  infancy  33 
It  was  a  powerful    Polemic   weapon   to    the  Early 

Apologists, 34 

It  is  a  valuable  historic  argument  in  our  day, 35 

It  precedes  in  date  all  other  profane  testimonies  con- 
cerning the  origin  of  Christianity, 37 

Suetonius  cited, 37 

Tacitus  cited, 37 

Pliny  cited, 38 

Mara  cited,   38 

The  Acta  superior  as  the  testimony  of  one  who  saw 

and  heard  the  Son  of  God, 40 

This  question  of  Christ  is  the  question  of  our  day, ...  41 

Goethe  cited, 41 

Renan  cited, 41 

Wm.  Cullen  Bryant's  testimony  to  Jesus,     42 

Historic  proof, 43 

ACTA  PILATI. 

Pilate  explains  his  motives  for  writing  to  the  Emperor  47 

What  he  had  heard  of  Jesus, 48 

How  he  one  day  saw  him  at  a  distance, 49 

What  Jesus  had  said, 51 

Pilate's  indulgence, 52 

Complaints  of  the  Jews  against  Jesus, 53 

Pilate  has  an  interview, 53 

Pilate's  warning, 56 

Herod's  interference, 58 

A  riot  at  the  Passover, 59 


10  ACTA  PILATI. 

The  opponents  of  Jesus  combine,    GO 

They  seize  him, 61 

Send  him  to  Pilate, Gl 

Herod's  course, 62 

Warning  by  Pilate's  wife, 68; 

Terrible  uproar,    6;^ 

Calmness  of  Jesus, 64 

Feelings  of  Pilate,    65 

The  Eclipse, 66 

Gloom  of  the  city,    67 

Joseph  of  Arimathea, 68 

The  sepulchre  found  empty, 68 

Troops  arrive  too  late, 6J> 

HISTORICAL  AND  CRITICAL   NOTES. 

a  A  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  Pontius  Pilate, 73 

His  character,    84 

I  A  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  Emperor  Tiberius,  .  .  87 

His  character, 98 

c  Appeal  to  Caesar, 97 

d  The  Eelations  of  the  Jewish  Government  to  the  Ro- 
man,     98 

e,  Traditional  sayings  of  Christ, 104 

/  The  Power  of  Life  and  Death, 106 

g  Claudia  Procula,  Pilate's  wife,    112 

h  Gemonise,    116 

i  The  Hand- Washing, 117 

k  Dionysius, 124 

I  The  First  Hour,    127 


-^HpiT^eDncTiej^jiK- 


How  THE  Editor  Came  ikto  Possession  of  the 
Document. 


The  following  remarkable  document,  like 
many  other  invaluable  parchments  that  have 
never  been  published  to  the  world,  has,  until 
noAV,  been  literally  concealed  among  the 
twenty-four  thousand  manuscripts  in  the 
penetralia  of  the  Vatican.  Its  existence, 
from  the  earliest  periods  of  the  Christian  Era, 
is  familiar  to  men  of  letters.  References  to 
it  abound  in  all  profound  works  concerning 
the  historical  aspects  of  the  argument  for 
the  divine  origin  of  Christianity;  e.  g.  Lard- 
ner.  Home,  Kitto,  Farrar,  Andrews,  and 
Tischendorf. 

Many  have  supposed  that  the  document 
had,  in  the  course  of  ages,  been  lost.     But 


14  ACTA    PILATL 

as  the  Sinaitic  manuscript  of  the  Xew  Tes- 
tament Avas  concealed  from  the  world  until 
1844,  when  it  was  brought  to  light  ]:>y  the 
indefatigable  zeal  of  Dr.  Constantine  Tiscli- 
endorf, — so,  strange  to  say,  this  important 
testimony  to  Christ,  was  not  accessible  until 
about  twenty  years  ago.  A  learned  man  of 
Germany,  not  a  Theologian,  spent  some  five 
years  in  Rome,  consulting  the  library  (jf  the 
Vatican.  He  became  well  acquainted  with 
the  chief  custodian,  and  enjoyed  unusual 
liberties.  He  finally  gained  access  even  to 
the  ancient  ^Manuscripts — the  uK^st  valuable 
collection  in  the  w^orld,  embracing  one  of 
the  oldest  codices  of  the  Bible.  To  his 
surprise  and  pleasure  he  came  upon  a  collec- 
tion called  the  Emperor  TilDcrius  Caesar's 
Court;  and  among  the  strange  and  curious 
state  papers  here  dejoosited,  he  happened 
upon  the  famous  official  i-eport  of  the  Pre- 
fect, Pontius  Pilate,  concerning  the  Trial 
and  Crucifixion  of  ( Jhrist. 


I  NT  ROD  UCTION.  15 

As  he  ^^'a!^  not  personally  interested  in 
Theological  stndies,  the  snbject  passed  from 
his  mind.  But  some  years  afterwards  he 
came  to  the  L  nited  States,  and  happened  to 
be  the  guest  of  a  Clergyman.  In  the  course 
of  conversation  concerning  Itome  and  the 
Vatican,  the  matter  was  recalled  to  his  recol- 
lection, and  he  mentioned  that  he  had  seen 
and  read  the  Acta  Pilati.  It  seems  that  the 
statement  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the 
mind  of  the  latter,  although  it  had  been  ac- 
companied with  the  opinion  that  it  did  not 
add  much  to  the  common  teachings  of  Chris- 
tianity. Several  months  elapsed,  but  the 
statement  of  the  learned  German  clung  to 
the  clergyman's  memory.  At  last  he  could 
not  forbeai'  to  write  to  him  in  ]S^ew-York 
city,  reminding  him  of  the  Acta  Pilati,  and 
asking  whether  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
obtain  a  transcript  of  it  from  the  Vatican. 
But  he  had  already  returned  to  his  home  in 


16  ACTA  PI L ATI. 

AYestphalia.  The  letter  was  however  for- 
warded; and  finally,  after  mnch  delay,  an 
answer  came,  stating  that  he  had  written  to 
Father  Freelinhnsen,  a  monk  of  great  learn- 
ing, at  Rome,  and  cnstodian  of  the  Vatican. 
He  also  stated  that  he  had  made  the  request 
in  his  own  name,  as  he  did  not  think  the 
Papal  authorities  Avould  be  willing  for  such 
a  document  to  go  into  the  hands  of  the  pub- 
lic. Father  Freelinhusen  expressed  himself 
as  willing  to  furnish  the  transcript.  The 
parchment  being  old  and  defaced,  he  was 
compelled  to  use  a  magnifying  glass  in  tran- 
scribing it.  It  was  in  the  original  Latin, 
and  accompanied  by  the  following  letter: 
"  Borne ^  Italy ^  Ajjvil  26tJi,  1859. 
I  lierehy  forward  you  the  transcrij^t  as  it 
is  on  record  in  tlie  Yatican  in  Tiberius 
Ccesar's  Court  hy  Pilate.  I  certify  this  to 
he  a  true  copy^  word  for  woirl,  as  it  occurs 
there.  Petek  Freeli^iiusex." 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

For  twent}'  years  its  owner  has  kept  it  as 
a  private  literary  treasure.  ISTot  until  now 
has  he  been  induced  by  the  importunate 
urgency  of  many  esteemed  friends  to  give  it 
to  the  AYorld. 

As  being  the  most  ancient  non-biblical 
testimony  about  Christ — antedating  even 
the  first  of  the  Gospels  and  Epistles — it  will 
be  read  with  feelings  of  peculiar  interest  and 
even  aAve.  Its  publication  will  be  welcomed 
by  thousands  who  have  seen  references  to 
it,  and  by  all  to  whom  this  is  the  first  notice 
of  its  existence.  Without  claiming  that  the 
Acta  Pilati  add  materially  to  the  sum  of  de- 
tails furnished  in  the  Gospels,  they  will 
nevei-theless  silence,  forever,  the  cavils  of  all 
who  have  sneeringly  asked,  why  profane 
historians  have  not  mentioned  the  introduc- 
tion of  Christianity  into  the  world.  Indeed 
there  is  now  accessible  a  complete  chain  of 
non-biblical  testimony,  each  link  comprising 


18  ACTA  FILATI. 

an  important  item  in  the  life  of  our  Savior. 
That  Caesar  Augustus  ordered  the  whole 
world  to  be  taxed,  we  learn  from  Tacitus, 
Suetonius,  and  Dion;  that  a  great  light  or 
Star  appeared  in  the  East,  from  Chaleidius; 
the  cruelty  of  Herod,  even  to  the  point  of 
slaughtering  innocent  children  and  putting 
to  death  his  own  sons,  is  mentioned  by  Jo- 
sephus;  that  our  Savior  had  been  in  Egypt, 
by  Celsus ;  that  Pontius  Pilate  was  Governor 
of  Judea,  by  Tacitus;  that  miraculous  cures, 
and  works  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of 
nature  were  wrought  by  Christ,  is  distinctly 
stated  by  Julian  the  Apostate,  Porphyry,  and 
Hierocles;  that  Jesus  made  predictions 
which  came  to  pass,  and  the  earth-quake  and 
darkness  when  he  died,  by  Phlegon;  and  the 
immediate  causes  which  led  to  the  crucifix- 
ion, and  the  particulars  of  his  trial,  in  the 
official  report  of  Pilate  himself. 


The  Estimation  in  which   the  Acta  Pilaii    were 

HELL)    BY    THE    ApOSTOLIC    P'aTHERS    AND    EaRLT 

Defenders  op  Christianity. 


The  early  Fathers  of  the  Church  deemed 
this  document  of  the  highest  authority  and 
vahie. 

Justin  Martyr,  in  his  first  apology  for  the 
(yhristians,  which  was  presented  to  the  Em- 
peror Antoninus  Pius,  in  the  year  A.  D.,  138, 
1  laving  mentioned  the  Crucifixion  of  Jesus 
and  some  of  its  attendant  circumstances, 
says  : 

'^  And  that  these  things  were  so  done,  you 
may  know  from  the  Acts  made  in  the  time 
of  Pontius  Pilate." 

Afterwards,  in  the  same  apology,  having 


20  ACTA  PILATI. 

noticed  some  of  our  Lord's  miracles,  such  as 
liealiiig  diseases  and  raising  the  dead,  he  says : 

''  And  that  these  things  were  done  by  him, 
yon  may  know  by  the  Acts  made  in  the  time 
of  Pontins  Pilate."     (Apol.  Prima,  ^6^,  72). 

Jnstin  Martyr  was  l)orn  A.  ]]).,  89.  Jo- 
seph Addison  says,  concerning  him,  that 
''  he  resided,  made  converts,  and  snlfered 
martyrdom  at  Pome,  wiiere  he  Avas  engaged 
with  Philosophers,  and  in  a  particnlar  man- 
ner with  one  Crescens,  the  Cynic,  who  conkl 
easily  have  detected,  and  wonld  not  have 
failed  to  expose  him,  had  he  qnoted  a  record 
not  in  being,  or  made  any  false  citation  ont  of 
it.  Wonld  the  great  Apologist  have  chal- 
lenged Crescens  to  dispnte  the  canse  of 
( yhristianity  with  him,  l)efore  the  Roman 
Senate,  had  he  forged  snch  an  evidence,  or 
wonld  Crescens  have  refnsed  the  challenge, 
conld  he  have  trinmphed  over  him  in  the  de- 
tection of  snch  a  forgery?     To   which   we 


I  NT  ROD  UCTION.  21 

must  add,  that  the  apology  which  appeals  to 
this  record,  was  presented  to  a  learned  Em- 
peror and  to  the  whole  body  of  the  Koman 
Senate."  (Addison's  Evidence,  edition  Lon- 
don, 1776,  p.  9). 

The  learned  Tertnllian,  in  his  Apology 
for  Christianity,  about  the  year  200,  after 
speaking  of  our  Savior's  crucifixion  and  res- 
urrection, and  his  appearance  to  the  disci- 
ples, who  were  ordained  by  him  to  publish 
the  Gospel  over  the  world,  thus  proceeds : 

"  Of  all  these  things  relating  to  Christ, 
Pilate  himself,  in  his  conscience  already  a 
Christian,  sent  an  account  to  Tiberius,  then 
Emperor." 

The  same  writer,  in  the  same  Apology, 
thus  relates  the  proceedings  of  Tiberius  on 
receiving  this  information : 

"  There  was  an  ancient  decree  that  no  one 
should  be  received  for  a  deity  unless  he  was 
first  approved  by  the  Senate.  Tiberius,  in 
whose  time  the  Christian  name  [or  religion] 


22  ACTA  FILATI. 

liad  its  rise,  lia\  iiig  received  from  Palestine 
in  Syria,  an  acconnt  of  snch  things  as  mani- 
fested tiie  trnth  of  his  [Christ's]  divinity, 
proposed  to  the  Senate  that  he  should  be 
enrolled  among  the  lioman  gods,  and 
gave  his  own  prerogative  \'ote  in  f^ivor 
of  the  motion.  But  the  Senate  [without 
whose  consent  no  deification  could  take 
place]  rejected  it,  because  the  Emperor  him- 
self had  declined  the  same  honor.  Never- 
theless, the  Emperor  persisted  in  his  opinion, 
and  threatened  punishment  to  the  accusers 
of  the  Christians.  Search  your  own  com- 
mentaries [or  public  writings],  you  will  there 
find  that  ^evo  Avas  the  first  who  raged  with 
the  imperial  sword  against  the  sect,  when 
rising  most  at  Home." 

The  value  of  the  above  citations  is  Avell 
expressed  in  the  following  language  of  the 
learned  Home,  in  his  "  Introduction  to  the 
CMtical  Study  and  Knov^ledge  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,"  vol.  I,  page  82.  He  says : 
''These  testimonies  of  Justin  and  Tertullian, 


TXrnOl)  TCTTOX.  28 


are  taken  from  public  apolog'ies  for  the  Chris- 
tian I'eligion,  Avhieh  vrere  ])resented  either  to 
the  Emperor  and  Senate  of  Rome,  or  to  mag- 
istrates of  public  authority  and  great  dis- 
tincti(m  in  the  Roman  emnire.  Xow  it  is 
incredible  that  such  v/riters  wcmld  lia.ve  made 
such  a])})eals,  especially  to  the  very  persons 
in  whose  custody  these  documents  were,  had 
they  not  been  fully  satisfied  of  their  exist- 
ence and  contents.'' 

The  account  which  Eusebius  gives  of  the 
Acta  Pilati  is  very  clear,  and  affords  several 
[)articulars  concerning  the  effect  produced 
upon  the  mind  of  the  Emperor  Tiberius.  He 
says: 

"  The  fame  of  our  Lord's  remarkal^le  res- 
urrection and  ascension  being  now  spread 
abroad,  according  to  an  ancient  custom  prev- 
alent among  the  rulers  of  the  nations,  to 
communicate  noNcl  occurrences  to  the  Em- 
peror, that  nothing-  might  escape  him,  Pontius 
Pilate  transmits  to  Tiberius  an  account  of 
the  circumstances  ccmcernino-  the  resurrec- 


24  ACTA  PILATI. 

tion  of  our  Lord  from  the  dead,  the  report  of 
which  had  ah-eady  spread  throughout  all 
Palestine.  In  this  account  he  also  intimated 
that  he  ascertained  other  miracles  respect- 
ing him,  and  that  now  having  risen  from  the 
dead,  he  was  believed  to  be  a  God  by  the 
great  mass  of  the  people.  Tiberius  referred 
the  matter  to  the  Senate,  but  it  is  said  they 
rejected  the  proposition,  apparentl}^  because 
they  had  not  examined  into  this  subject  first, 
according  to  an  ancient  law  among  the  Ro- 
mans, that  no  one  should  be  ranked  among 
the  gods  unless  by  a  vote  and  decree  of  the 
Senate ;  in  reality,  however,  because  the  salu- 
tar}^  doctrine  of  the  Gospel  needs  no  confir- 
mation and  co-operation  of  men."  ^  *  * 
"  Tiberius,  therefore,  under  whom  the  name 
of  Christ  was  spread  throughout  the  world, 
when  this  doctrine  was  announced  to  him 
from  Palestine,  where  it  first  began,  com- 
municated with  the  Senate,  being  obviously 
pleased  with  the  doctrine;  but  the  Senate, 
as  they  had  not  proposed  the  measure,  reject- 
ed  it.     But  he   continued   in   his  opinion, 


fXT/lOJXCTrO^'.  25 


tlireatening  death  to  tlie  ac-eusers  of  the 
(Christians;  a  divine  pi"o\  ideiiee  hifiismgthis 
into  his  uiiud,  that  the  Crosj^el  lia\  iiig  freer 
scope  hi  its  coniniencement,  iiiiglit  spread 
everywhere  over  the  Avorld/'  (Eusehius' 
Ecek^siastical  History,  Booh  FI,  chapter  2, 
page  74). 


The  Forgery  of  the  Original  by  the  Enemies   of 
THE  Christians,  A.  D.  311. 


The  authority  and  force  of  the  appeals  to 
this  document  were  felt  and  acknowledged 
by  the  Heathen  opponents  of  Christianity  to 
such  a  degree  that  during  the  reign  of  tlie 
Emperor  Maximin,  A.  D.  311,  false  Acts  of 
Pilate  w^ere  forged,  intended  to  cast  discredit 
upon  the  Divine  Founder  of  Cln*istianity, 
and  they  were  disseminated  with  the  utmost 
activity.  (See  Milman's  History  of  Christi- 
anity, page  266).  Concerning  the  extent 
and  bitterness  to  which  this  was  carried,  we 
also  have  the  direct  testimony  of  one  who 
lived  at  the  time.     Eusebius  says : 

''  Having  forged,  therefore,  certain  acts  of 


INTRO  I)  UCTION.  27 

Pilate,  respecting  our  Saviour,  full  of  every 
kind  of  blasphemy  against  Christ,  these,  with 
the  consent  of  the  Emperor,  they  sent  through 
the  whole  of  the  Empire  subject  to  him,  com- 
manding at  the  same  time  by  ordinances  in 
every  place  and  city,  and  the  adjacent  dis- 
tricts, to  publish  these  to  all  persons,  and  to 
ofive  them  to  the  schoolmasters  to  hand  to 
their  pupils  to  study  and  to  commit  to  mem- 
ory, as  exercises  for  declamation.  Whilst 
these  things  w^ere  doing,  another  commander, 
whom  the  Komans  call  Dux,  in  Damascus, 
a  city  of  Phoenicia,  caused  certain  infamous 
females  to  be  seized  from  the  forum,  and 
threatening  to  inflict  torture  upon  them,  he 
forced  them  to  make  a  formal  declaration, 
taken  down  on  record,  that  they  had  once 
l:)een  Christians,  and  that  they  were  privy  to 
the  criminal  acts  among  them :  that  in  their 
\ery  churches,  they  committed  licentious 
deeds;  and  innumerable  other  slanders,  which 
he  wished  them  to  utter  against  our  religion; 
which  declarations  he  inserted  in  the  Acts, 
and  communicated  to  the  Emperor,  who  im- 


28  ACTA  PILATI. 

L 

mediately  eoiniiianded  tliat  thei^e  docmnents 
should  be  published  in  every  city  and  place." 
(Ensebins' Ecclesiastical  History,  T^ook  IX, 
chaptei*  5,  page  414). 


The  Value  of  the  Acta  Pilati. 

The  value  of  the  Acta  Pilati  appears  from 
the  fact  that  it  was  deemed  worthy  of  being 
travestied  by  the  persecutors  of  the  christians ; 
from  its  dignified  origin  in  the  general  nsage 
of  governments,  ancient  and  modern,  to  re- 
quire important  officers  to  render  written  re- 
ports of  their  administrations;  that  it  was 
the  means  of  preventing  the  Emperor  Tibe- 
rius from  persecuting  the  Christian  church  in 
its  feeble  infancy ;  that  it  gave  immense  force 
to  the  arguments  of  the  early  Apologists 
that  they  could  refer  to  the  State  Papers  of 
the  government  for  the  truth  of  their  state- 
ments; and  besides  all  this,  it  is  powerful 
collateral  secular  proof  of  the  truth  of  the 
(xospel  History. 


80  ACTA   PILATI. 


1.  From  the  ancient  testimonies  already 
eited,  it  is  at  once  evident  how  iynportanf  a 
place  the  Acta  Pilatiheld  in  the  estimation 
of  the  Primitive  Christia^is.  With  wliat 
iniphcit  and  entire  confidence  Justin,  Ter- 
tiiUian,  and  Ensebius  rely  upon  it!  It  is 
prima  facie  evidence  that  it  was  often  ap- 
pealed to  to  be  deemed  woi'thy  of  being  trav- 
estied when  the  enemies  and  persecutors  of 
the  (Christians  wanted  weapons  against  them! 
Had  there  been  no  such  document,  it  could 
not  have  been  counterfeited.  Had  it  not 
been  an  important  testimony,  it  would  not 
have  been  foi-ged.  Both  its  actual  existence 
and  its  apologetic  importance  are  establislied 
by  the  falsification  of  it  during  the  perse- 
cution under  Maximin,  A.  D.  311. 

2.  It  gives  gi-eat  dignity  and  force  to  the 
Acta  Pilati  to  bear  in  mind  that  it  originated 
m  the  general  usage  of  governments,  ancient 
and  modern,    that  important  oncers  are  to 


IN  TROD  UCTWN,  31 


vender  uiritten  reports  of  their  administra- 
tions.  In  our  own  country  the  President 
sends  his  Message  to  (-ongress,  together 
with  the  Annual  Reports  of  the  heads  of  the 
various  Departments.  Siniihu'  to  this  was 
the  custom  in  ancient  times.  In  some  sucli 
way  originated  the  C/ommentaries  of  JuUus 
Caesar,  the  letter  of  Agrippa  to  the  Emperor 
( 'align hi,  the  fauKnis  Epistle  of  Pliny  the 
younger  to  the  Emperor  Trajan,  and  many 
other  documents  still  in  existence.  The 
Romans  were  particularl}^  careful  in  pre- 
serving the  memor}^  of  all  remarkable  eyents 
AV'hich  occurred  in  their  magnificent  domin- 
ions. They  had  for  this  purpose,  tw^o  sets 
of  archives — the  Acta  Diurna  Populi,  and 
the  Acta  Senatus.  Such  reports  were  not 
published  for  general  perusal,  but  deposited 
as  State  Papers  of  the  Government,  and 
served  as  a  treasury  of  invaluable  resources 
for  the  Annalist  and  the  Historian. 


32  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

Lord  Beacoiisfiekl  tells  us  that  "  the  Em- 
perors were  ambitious  at  leugth  to  give  their 
names  to  the  Libraries  thej  founded;  they 
did  not  consider  the  purple  as  their  chief  or- 
nament. Augustus  was  hiiaself  an  author, 
and  in  one  of  those  sumptuous  buildings 
called  Thermes,  ornamented  with  })orticoes, 
galleries,  and  statues,  with  shady  walks  and 
refreshing  baths,  testified  his  love  of  literature 
by  adding  a  magnificent  library,  one  of 
those  libraries  he  fondly  called  by  the  name 
of  his  sister,  Octa^'ia;  and  the  other,  the 
temple  of  Apollo,  became  the  haunt  of  the 
poets,  as  Horace,  Juvenal,  and  Persius  have 
commemorated.  The  successors  of  Augus- 
tus imitated  his  example,  cmd  even  Tiberius 
had  an  Imperial  library,  chiejly  consisting 
of  worhs  concerning  the  Empire ^  and  the 
acts  of  its  Sovereigns.  These  Trajan  aug- 
mented by  the  Ulpian  library,  so  denomi- 
nated from  the  fiimily  name  of  this  prince." 
(Curiosities  of  Literature,  page  1). 


[XT  ROD  rrTIOX.  33 


The  fragments  that  remam  in  our  clay  of 
these  libraries  and  public  documents  consti- 
tute a  part  of  the  manuscript  treasures  of 
the  Vatican  at  Kome;  and  there  is  a  special 
alcove  dexoted  to  the  records  of  Tiberius 
Csesar,  in  \\'hich  the  original  Latin  text  of 
the  folloAvino-  Englisli  version  is  found.  It 
is  exceedino'lv  difficult  to  gain  access  to 
these  ancient  and  vakiable  manuscripts. 
They  are  guarded  with  the  utmost  care,  and 
it  is  next  to  impossible  to  procure  a  copy  of 
am  of  them,  through  any  means.  Even  the 
English  government,  when  a  few  years  ago 
certain  transcripts  were  wanted  for  the  Brit- 
ish Museum,  were  at  first  refused,  and  suc- 
ceeded only  after  considerable  negotiation. 
It  is  a  singular  and  rare  piece  of  good  foitune 
that  this  copy  of  the  Acta  Pilati  has  been 
secured,  in  the  manner  already  narrated. 

3.  The  statement  concerning  tlie  impres- 
sion it  produced,  upon  the  mind  of  Tiherius 


34  ACTA   PI L ATT. 

is  of  great  interest  and  importance.  We 
know  from  anthentic  sources  that  he  was  of 
a  dark  and  brooding  character,  though  pos- 
sessed of  great  intellect.  He  was  full  of 
envy  and  suspicion,  and  easily  aroused  to 
acts  of  cruelty.  His  administration  is  dark- 
ened by  many  acts  of  injustice.  It  is  very 
strange  that  he  was  not  foremost  among  the 
persecutors  of  the  Church.  But  instead  of 
this  we  find  a  remarkable  clemency  and 
moderation  towards  the  disciples  of  Jesus  in 
his  reign.  It  was  then  that  the  Christian 
Church  had  the  opportunity  to  begin  to  grow. 
The  Gospel  was  not  nipped  in  the  bud,  but 
had  free  course  and  was  spread  abroad.  In 
the  profound  impression  produced  by  Pilate's 
writing,  we  have  the  link  in  the  chain  of 
Divine  Providence  that  brought  about  this 
most  desirable  result. 

4.     One  can  easily  imagine  what  power  it 
gave  to  the  early  defenders  of  Christianity, 


I  XT  ROD  UCTION.  35 

that  they  coiild  wppeal  for  the  truth  of  their 
statements  to  the  State  pajjers  of  the  Roman 
Empire.  They  claimed  that  the  official  doc- 
uments of  the  Civil  Govermnent  confirmed 
the  assertions  they  made  in  regard  to  Christ. 
A  better  argument  could  not  be  imagined. 
It  makes  the  point.  It  proves  that  these 
things  which  the  Gospel  narrates  are  not 
cunningly  devised  fables,  and  that  they  were 
not  done  in  a  corner;  but  that  those  best 
competent  to  do  so  were  challenged  at  the 
time  when  they  occurred  to  deny  them,  but 
were  compelled  to  admit  them  as  actual 
facts. 

5.  It  is  a  powerful  argument  for  the  truth 
of  the  Gospel,  and  from  an  entirely  unique 
and  independent  stand-point.  It  is  not  from 
the  pen  of  a  Christian  Apologist,  but  from 
the  pen  of  a  Heathen.  It  was  written  for 
a  purely  secular  purpose;  and  yet  it  is,  for 
all  that,  so  much  the  more  useful  as  a  w  eapon 


36  ACTA  FILATI. 


in  defense  of  Christianity.  It  is  not  an  ar- 
gument from  a  believer,  stating  the  reasons 
of  the  hope  that  is  in  him,  but  merely  an 
official  report  from  an  army  officer  to  his 
superior,  explaining  why  he  had  acted  as  he 
had  done,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances 
which  he  explains.  Its  general  ])urden  and 
t(me  shows  this  to  ha^  e  ])een  the  only  aim 
of  the  writer.  It  is  indeed  replete  with 
weighty  testimony  to  Jesus;  but  that  is  in- 
cidental and  in  no  sense  the  main  purj^ose  of 
the  writer.  Jt  is  not  an  argument  to  prove 
the  resurrection  of  Christ,  or  any  other  vital 
point;  nor  does  he  mention  an^^  important 
additional  fact  in  Avhich  a  believer  in  the 
(xospel  would  be  likely  to  be  interested.  And 
yet  it  does  contain  statements  that  do  thi'ow 
light  upon  the  Gospel  narratiA  e,  and  that 
corrol)orate  and  explain  it.  We  may  well, 
therefore,  claim  that  we  have  here  a  j^ower- 
ful  collateral  secular  proof  of  the  truth  of 
the  Gospel  History. 


INTRODUCTION.  37 

6.  We  have  before  us,  therefore,  m  the 
present  volume,  the  most  ancient  of  all  the 
secular  testimonies  to  the  New  Testament, 
The  Roman  historian,  Suetonius,  who  flour- 
ished in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Trajan, 
A.  D.  116,  refers  to  Christ  when  he  says  that 
''  Claudius  Caesar  expelled  the  Jews  from 
Kome,  because  they  raised  continual  tumults 
at  the  instigation  of  Christ,"  who  it  is  well 
known  was  sometimes  called  Chrestus,  and 
his  disciples  Chrestians  (Suetonius  in  Clau- 
dio,  cap.  25).  The  event  referred  to  occur- 
red in  the  year  A.  D.  52,  within  twenty  years 
after  the  Crucifixion.  Tacitus,  who  flourish- 
ed under  Trajan,  A.  D.  110,  writing  the 
history  of  ^ero,  the  successor  of  Claudius, 
A.  D.  64,  says  of  the  Christians,  "  the  author 
of  that  sect  or  name  was  Chrestus,  who  in 
the  reign  of  Tiberius  was  punished  with  death 
as  a  criminal,  by  the  Procurator  Pontius 
Pilate,"  (Tacit.  Annal.  hber.  XV,  cap.  44). 


38  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

Pliny  the  younger,  in  A.  1).  107,  says  that 
Jesus  was  worshiped  by  liis  followers  as  (lod. 
(Plin.  Epist.  lib.  X  ep.  97,  torn.  II,  p.   128). 

The  Acta  Pilati  antedates  all  these,  and 
comes  earlier  even  than  the  Syriac  Letter  of 
Mara,  addressed  to  his  son  Serapeon  A.  1). 
73.  Mara,  a  man  thoi-oughly  versed  in 
(xreek  Philosophy,  but  not  satisfied  with  the 
consolations  it  offered,  Avrites  from  his  place 
of  exile,  a  letter  of  comfort  and  instruction 
to  his  son,  in  which  he  ranks  Christ  along 
with  Socrates  and  Pythagoras;  he  honors 
him  as  a  wise  king;  he  charges  the  Jews  with 
his  murder;  declares  that  thereby  they  had 
brcmght  upon  themselves  the  destructicm  of 
their  commcmwealth,  but  that  ('hrist  con- 
tinued to  live  in  the  new  law  which  he  had 
given.  (('Ureton,  Spicil.  Syriacum,  L(mdon, 
1855). 

Weighty   and  important   as   these    testi- 
mcmies  are,  we  yet  claim  for  the  Acta  Pilati 


[NT  ROD  U( '  TION.  39 

a  still  higher  position.  It  has  the  ad^  aiitage  of 
priority;  was  probably  composed  in  the  very 
year  of  the  Crucifixion,  and  is  the  utterance 
of  an  eye-witness  to  the  monientous  events 
it  records.  Pilate's  report  has  all  the  more 
value  to  us,  in  that  it  is  in  no  sense  intended 
to  be  in  the  interest  of  Jesus,  but  that  its 
original  design  was  his  own  defence  against 
possible  accusation  of  maladministration. 

7.  This  splendid  document  has  thus  been 
rescued  from  the  corroding  tooth  of  time, 
and  from  the  accumulating  dust  of  ages.  It 
has  doubtless,  like  the  Holy  Scriptures  them- 
selves, suffered  mau}^  vicissitudes.  As  it  is 
a  curious  circumstance  in  literar}'  history 
that  we  should  owe  Tacitus  to  a  single  copy 
found  in  a  monastery  of  Westphalia,  so  it  is 
strange  that  the  world  should  now^  receive  the 
Acta  Pilati  from  a  single  old  and  defaced 
copy  in  the  Vatican.  Thus  the  lapse  of 
centuries,  like  the  tides  and  storms  of  oceans. 


40  ACTA  PILATI. 

has  doubtless  swept  into  oblivion  many  great 
and  stupendous  events  of  history ;  but  ever 
and  anon  borne  up  upon  its  bosom,  from  out 
the  dark  vast  depths  long  hidden  treasures, 
fresh  as  on  the  morning  of  their  birth,  and 
brilliant  as  the  beams  of  the  stars  that  shone 
on  nature's  daivn. 

"Truth  is  ever  young,  however  old, 
'Tis  ever  new  as  when  first  told ; 
Its  fragrance  fresh  as  the  new  mould 
From  which  the  first  young  flowers  unfold." 

Truth  shall  outlive  all  the  baneful  plants  of 
error.  Out  of  hidden  seeds  of  truth,  dug' 
from  the  hoary  pyramids  of  time,  that  fling 
their  shadows  over  the  immeasurable  wastes 
of  sin's  Sahara,  shall  grow  flowery  oases 
amid  the  fiery  sands, — and  blossom  into  good 
for  man! 

We  print  this  book  as  the  testimony  of  a 
Heathen,  one  who  knew  not  the  true  God, 
hut  one  who  saw  and  heard  the  Son  of  God  I 
It  has  been  kept  by  the  same  hands,  througli 
which  the  Sacred  Oracles  themselves  have 


UYTBOD  UCTION.  41 

been  transmitted  to  us .  It  has  now  strangely 
come  to  light  from  under  the  care  of  keepers 
who  have  always  .jealously  chained  to  the 
block  of  secrecy  all  they  deemed  too  sacred 
for  the  masses  of  the  people. 

It  comes  at  an  opportune  moment.  The 
many  Lives  of  Christ  recently  given  to  the 
world  indicate  the  profound  and  unabated 
interest  of  mankind  in  Jesus.  One  of  the 
greatest  Theologians  of  the  world  says: 
"  This  is  the  religious  question  of  the  age;" 
and  Goethe:  '"The  conflict  of  faith  and 
unbelief  remains  the  proper,  the  only,  the 
deepest  theme  of  the  history  of  the  world 
and  mankind,  to  Avhich  all  others  are  subor- 
dinated." Even  Renan  says  of  Christ :  "  For 
thousands  of  years  the  world  will  depend  on 
thee!  Banner  of  our  contests,  thou  shalt  be 
the  standard  about  which  the  hottest  battle 
will  be  given.  A  thousand  times  more  alive, 
a  thousand  times  more  beloved   since  thy 


42  ACTA   PI L ATI. 


death  than  during  th}^  passage  here  beloi^ , 
thou  shalt  become  the  corner-stone  of  hu- 
manity so  entirely,  that,  to  tear  thy  name 
from  this  world  would  be  to  rend  it  to  its 
foundations."  And  William  CuUen  Bryant, 
in  the  same  strain,  but  Avith  still  greater 
beauty  of  expression  and  depth   of  feeling : 

"  This  character,  of  which  Christ  was  the 
perfect  model,  is  in  itself  so  attractive,  so 
'  altogether  lovely,'  that  1  camiot  describe 
in  language  the  admirati(jn  with  which  1  re- 
gard it;  nor  can  I  express  the  gratitude  I 
feel  for  the  dispensation  which  bestowed  that 
example  on  mankind,  for  the  truths  which  he 
taught  and  the  sufierings  he  endured  for  our 
sakes.  1  tremble  to  think  what  the  world 
would  be  without  Him.  I'ake  away  thi* 
blessings  of  the  advent  of  iiis  life  and  the 
blessings  purchased  by  his  death,  in  what 
an  abyss  of  guilt  would  man  have  been  left ! 
It  would  seem  to  be  blotting  the  sun  out  of 
the  heavens — to  leave  oui'  system  of  worlds 
in  chaos,  frost,  and  darkness. 


TNT  ROD  UCTION.  43 

"  In  my  view  of  the  life,  the  teachings,  the 
labors,  and  the  snflPerings  of  the  blessed  Jesus, 
there  can  be  no  admiration  too  profound,  no 
love  of  which  the  human  heart  is  capable, 
too  warm,  no  gratitude  too  earnest  and  deep 
of  which  he  is  justly  the  object.  It  is  with 
sorrow  that  my  love  for  him  is  so  cold,  and 
my  gratitude  so  inadequate.  It  is  with  sor- 
row that  I  see  any  attempt  to  put  aside  His 
teachings  as  a  delusion,  to  turn  men's  eyes 
from  his  example,  to  meet  with  doubt  and 
denial  the  story  of  his  life.  For  my  part,  if 
I  thought  the  religion  of  skepticism  were  to 
gather  strength  and  prevail  and  become  the 
dominant  view  of  mankind,  I  should  despair 
of  the  fate  of  mankind  in  the  years  that  are 
yet  to  come."  (Alden,  Thoughts  on  the  Ke- 
ligious  Life,  with  Introduction  by  W.  Cullen 
Bryant.     N.  Y.  Putnam,  1879). 

In  the  elucidation  of  this  question  of  ques- 
tions, the  most  important  phase  is  the  histor- 
ical aspect.  The  actual  fact  of  the  Life  and 
Death  of  Jesus  is  just  as  capable  of  historic 
evidence    as   any   other    event   of  history. 


44  ACTA    PILATI. 

In  this  direction  the  present  vohime  is  des- 
tined to  accomphsh  a  great  mission.  Unbe- 
lievers demand  heathen  testimony  concerning 
the  contents  of  the  books  of  the  ]Srew  Testa- 
ment. Here  it  is  in  abnndance.  The  Kings 
and  Congresses  and  G(j\ernments  of  iS^a- 
tions  shall  know — despite  all  that  skeptical 
scientists,  philosophers,  and  critics  have  done 
or  can  do, — that  in  the  splendor  of  the  An- 
gustan  age  there  came  One,  whose  name  shall 
outshine  all  the  pomp  and  glory  of  worldly 
power  and  triumph; — and  to  whom  all  the 
nations  of  the  world,  not  in  mockery  but  in 
worship  shall  bend  the  knee; — and  crown 
with  a  diadem  not  of  thorns,  but  of  praise 
and  gratitude — the  Ix)rd  of  Lords  and  King 
of  Kings. 


*^CT^^PIIl^5^I.3}e^ 


The  relercuces  iuUicated  l>y  the  small  letters  throughout  the  text  of 
the  Acta,  point  to  the  Notes,  in  which  Avill  be  found  all  the  principal 
liistorical  and  critical  information  necesj^.-iry  to  its  appreciative  and 
enjoyable  i)eriisal. 


PoXTFirs  PiLATE'^to  the  Empekok  Tibe- 
itrirs;''  CTi-eeting:  Recent  events  in  my  [)vo\- 
ince  have  been  of  snch  a  character,  that  I 
thought  I  would  give  the  details  as  they 
have  occurred,  as  I  should  not  he  surprised 
if  in  the  coln^se  of  time  they  may  change 
the  destiny  of  our  nation,  for  it  seems  of  late 
that  the  gods  ha\  e  ceased  to  he  propitious. 
1  am  almost  ready  to  say:  Cursed  be  the 
chiy  that  T  succeeded  Valerius  Clratus  in  the 
go^  ernment  of  Judea.  On  my  arrival  at 
Jerusalem  T  took  possession  of  the  Pretorium 
and  ordered  a  splendid  feast  to  be  prepared, 
to  which  I  invited  the  tetrarch  of  Galilee, 
with  the  high  Priests  and  his  officers.     At 


48  ACTA    PILATI. 

the  appomtecl  hour  no  guests  appeared. 
This  was  an  insult  offered  to  ni}'  dignity.  A 
few  days  after,  the  high  priest  deigned  to 
pay  me  a  visit.  His  dei3ortment  was  grave 
and  deceitful.  He  pretended  that  his  religion 
forbade  him  and  his  attendants  to  sit  doAvn 
at  the  table  of  the  Romans  and  to  offer  up 
libations  with  them.  I  thought  it  expedient 
to  accept  his  excuse,  but  from  that  moment 
I  was  convinced  that  the  conquered  had  de- 
clared themselves  the  enemies  of  the  con- 
querors. It  seemed  to  me  of  all  conquered 
cities,  Jerusalem  was  the  most  difficult  to 
govern.  So  turbulent  were  the  people  that 
T  lived  in  momentary  dread  of  an  insurrec- 
tion. To  suppress  it  I  had  but  a  single  cen- 
turian  and  a  handful  of  soldiers.  I  requested 
a  reinforcement  from  the  Prefect  of  Syria, 
who  informed  me  that  he  had  scarcely  troops 
sufficient  to  defend  his  own  province.  An 
insatiate  thirst  for  conquest — to  extend  our 


ACTA  PI L ATT.  49 

empire  beyond  the  means  of  defending  it — T 
fear  will  be  the  means  of  destroying  onr 
noble  government. 

Among  the  varions  rnmors  that  came  to 
my  ears,  there  was  one  that  attracted  my  at- 
tention in  particnlar.  A  yonng  man,  it  was 
said,  had  appeared  in  Galilee,  preaching 
with  a  noble  miction  a  new  law,  in  the  name 
of  the  gods  that  had  sent  him.  At  first  I 
was  apprehensive  that  his  design  was  to  stir 
u[)  the  people  against  the  Romans,  but  soon 
were  my  fears  dispelled.  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
spake  rather  as  a  friend  of  the  K(  mans  than 
of  the  Jews. 

One  day  in  passing  by  the  place  of  Siloe, 
where  there  was  a  great  concourse  of  people, 
r  obser\  ed  in  the  midst  of  the  group,  a  young 
man  who  was  leaning  against  a  tree,  calmly 
addressing  the  multitude.  I  was  told  it  was 
Jesus.  This  T  ccmld  easily  have  suspected, 
so  great  was  the  difference  l)etween  him  and 


50  ACTA  PI L ATT. 

those  who  were  hstening  to  him.  His  golden 
colored  hair  and  beard  gave  to  his  appearance 
a  celestial  aspect.  He  appeared  to  be  about 
thirty  years  of  age.  Xever  have  I  seen  a 
sweeter  or  more  serene  countenance.  What 
a  contrast  between  him  and  his  hearers,  with 
their  black  beards  and  tawny  complexion. 
ImwilUng  to  interrnpt  him  b}^  my  presence, 
I  continued  my  walk;  but  signified  to  my 
secretary  to  join  the  gronp  and  listen.  My 
secretary's  name  was  Manlius.  He  was 
the  grandson  of  the  chief  of  the  conspirators 
who  encamped  in  Etruria  waiting  Cataline. 
Manlius  was  an  ancient  inhabitant  of  Judea, 
and  well  acquainted  with  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage. He  was  devoted  to  me,  and  worthy 
of  my  confidence.  On  entering  the  Preto- 
rinm  I  found  ManHus,  who  related  to  me  the 
words  Jesus  had  pronounced  at  Siloe.  Xever 
have  I  heard  in  the  Pettico,  nor  in  the 
Avorks  of  the  philosophers  anything  that 
can  compare  to  the  maxims  of  Jesus. 


ACTA  PILATI.  51 


One  of  the  rebellious  Jews  so  numerous 
in  Jerusalem,  having  asked  him  if  it  was 
lawful  to  give  tribute  to  Caesar,  Jesus  re- 
plied: "  Render  unto  Caesar  the  things  which 
belong  to  Caesar,  and  unto  God  the  things 
that  are  God's."  It  Avas  on  account  of 
the  wisdom  of  this  saying,  that  I  granted  so 
much  liberty  to  the  Xazarene,  for  it  was  in 
my  power  to  have  him  arrested  and  exiled  to 
Pontus;  but  this  would  have  been  contrary 
to  the  justice  Avhich  has  always  characterized 
the  Romans.  This  man  was  neither  seditious 
nor  rebellious.  I  extended  to  him  my  pro- 
tection, unknown  perhaps  to  himself.  He 
was  at  liberty  to  act,  to  speak,  to  assemble 
and  address  the  people,  to  choose  disciples 
unrestrained  by  any  Pretorian  mandate. 
Should  it  ever  happen — may  the  gods  ever 
avert  the  omen — should  it  ever  happen,  I  say, 
that  the  religion  of  our  forefathers  be  sup- 
planted by  the  religion  of  Jesus,  it  will  be  to 


52  ACTA  PILATI. 

this  noble  toleration  that  Kome  shall  owe  her 
premature  obsequies;  while  I,  miserable 
wretch,  shall  have  been  the  instrument  of 
what  the  Hebrews  call  providence,  and  we, 
destiny. 

But  tliis  unlimited  freedom  gi*anted  to 
Jesus  provoked  the  Jews;  not  the  poor,  but 
the  rich  and  powerful.  It  is  true  that  Jesus 
was  severe  (jn  the  latter;  and  this  was  a 
political  reas(m,  in  my  opinion,  not  to  conti'ol 
the  liberty  of  the  Nazarene.  "  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,"  he  would  say  to  them,  "  you  are 
a  race  of  vipers;  you  resemble  painted  sepul- 
chres." At  other  times  he  would  sneer  at 
the  proud  alms  of  the  publican,  telling  him 
that  the  mite  of  the  poor  widow  was  more 
precious  in  the  sight  of  God. 

New  complaints  were  daily  made  at  the 
Pretorium  against  the  insolence  of  Jesus.  I 
was  even  informed  that  some  misfortune 
would  befall   him — that  it  would  not  be  the 


ACTA  PILATI.  53 


first  time  that  Jerusalem  had  stoned  those 
who  called  themselves  prophets — and  if  the 
Pretorium  refused  justice  an  appeal^  would 
be  made  to  Ca3sar.  However,  my  conduct 
was  approved  by  the  Senate,  and  I  was 
promised  a  reinforcement  after  the  termi- 
nation of  the  Parthian  war.  Being  too  weak 
to  suppress  a  sedition,  I  resolved  upon  adopt- 
ing a  measure  that  promised  to  establish  the 
tranquility  of  the  city,  without  subjecting 
the  Pretorium  to  humilating  concession. 

I  wrote  to  Jesus,  requesting  an  interview 
Avith  him  at  the  Pretorium.  You  know  that 
in  my  veins  flows  the  Spanish,  mixed  with 
the  Poman  blood,  as  incapable  of  fear  as  it 
is  of  puerile  emotion.  When  the  Z^^azarene 
made  his  appearance  I  was  walking  in  my 
basilic,  and  my  feet  seemed  fastened  with  an 
iron  hand  to  the  marble  pavement,  and  I 
trembled  in  every  limb  as  a  guilty  culprit, 
though  he  was  calm — the  JN^azarene,  calm  as 


54  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

innocence.  When  he  came  up  to  me  he 
stopped,  and  by  a  signal  sign  he  seemed  to 
say  to  me,  ''  I  am  here."  For  some  time,  I 
contemplated  with  admiration  and  awe  this 
extraordinary  type  of  man — a  type  of  man 
unknow^n  to  onr  numerous  painters,  who 
have  given  form  and  figure  to  all  the  gods 
and  heroes. 

"  Jesus,"  I  said  to  him  at  last — and  my 
tongue  faltered — "  Jesus  of  ]N^azareth,  I 
have  granted  you  for  the  last  three  years 
ample  freedom  of  speech,  nor  do  I  regret 
it.  Your  w^ords  are  those  of  a  sage.  I 
know  not  w  hether  you  have  read  Socrates 
or  Plato,  but  this  I  know,  that  there  is  in 
your  discourses  a  majestic  simplicity  that 
elevates  you  far  above  these  philoso- 
phers. The  Emperor  is  informed  of  it,  and 
I,  his  humble  representative  in  this  country, 
am  glad  of  having  allowed  you  that  liberty 
of  which   you  are  so   worthy.     HoW' ever,  I 


ACTA  PI L ATI.  55 

must  not  conceal  from  you  that  your  dis- 
courses ha^  e  raised  up  against  you  powerful 
and  inveterate  enemies,  i^either  is  this  sur- 
prising. Socrates  had  his  enemies,  and  he 
fell  a  victim  of  their  hatred.  Yours  are  doubly 
incensed  against  you,  on  account  of  your 
sayings  against  them,  and  on  account  of  the 
libert}^  extended  towards  you.  They  even 
accused  me  of  being  indirectly  leagued  with 
3'ou,  for  the  purpose  of  depriving  the  Hebrews 
of  the  little  civil  power  which  Rome  has  left 
them."^  My  request — I  do  not  say  my  order — 
is,  that  you  be  more  circumspect  in  the  future, 
and  more  tender  in  arousing  the  pride  of 
your  enemies,  lest  they  raise  against  you  the 
stupid  populace,  and  compel  me  to  emplo}^ 
the  instruments  of  justice. 

The  ISTazarene  calmly  replied :  "  Prince 
of  the  earth,  your  words  proceed  not  from 
true  wisdom.®  Say  to  the  torrent,  stop  in  the 
midst   of  the    mountain  home,   because   it 


56  ACTA  PI L ATI. 

will  uproot  the  trees  of  the  valley.  The 
torrent  will  answer  you,  that  it  must 
obey  the  laws  of  the  Creator.  God  alone 
knows  whither  flows  the  torrent.  Yerily,  I 
say  unto  you,  before  the  Rose  of  Sharon 
blossoms,  the  blood  of  the  just  shall  be  spilt." 

"  Your  blood  shall  not  be  spilt,"  replied  I 
mth  emotion.  "  You  are  more  precious,  in 
my  estimation,  on  account  of  your  wisdom, 
than  all  the  turbulent  and  proud  Pharisees, 
who  abuse  the  freedom  granted  them  by  the 
Romans,  conspire  against  Caesar,  and  con- 
strue our  bounty  into  fear.  Insolent  Avretches, 
they  are  not  aware  that  the  wolf  of  the  Tiber 
sometimes  clothes  himself  with  the  skin  of 
the  sheep.  I  will  protect  you  against  them. 
My  Pretorium  is  open  to  you  as  an  asylum; 
it  is  a  sacred  asylum." 

Jesus  carelessly  shook  his  head,  and  said, 
with  a  grace  and  a  divine  smile,  "  When  the 
day  shall  have  come,  there  wall  be  no  asylum 


ACTA  PI  L  AT  I.  57 

for  the  Son  of  Man,  neither  in  the  earth  nor 
under  the  earth.  The  asyhnn  of  the  Just  is 
there,  pointing  to  the  heavens.  That  which 
is  written  in  the  books  of  the  prophets  must 
be  accomplished. 

"  Young  man,"  answered  I,  mildly,  "  you 
oblige  me  to  convert  my  request  into  an 
order.  The  safety  of  the  province,  which 
has  been  confided  to  my  care,  requires  it. 
You  must  observe  more  moderation  in  your 
discourses.  Do  not  infringe.  My  orders 
you  know\  May  happiness  attend  you. 
Farewell." 

"  Prince  of  the  earth,"  replied  Jesus,  "  I 
come  not  to  bring  war  into  the  world,  but 
peace,  love  and  charity.  I  was  born  on  the 
same  day  on  which  Augustus  Caesar  gave 
peace  to  the  Roman  world.  Persecution 
proceeds  not  from  me.  I  expect  it  from 
others,  and  will  meet  it  in  obedience  to  the 
will  of  my  Father,  who  has   shown  me   the 


58  ACTA    PILATI. 

way.  Restrain  therefore,  your  worldly  pru- 
dence. It  is  not  in  ^^our  power  to  arrest  the 
victim  at  the  foot  of  the  Tabernacle  of  ex- 
piation." 

So  saying,  he  disappeared  like  a  bright 
shadow  behind  the  curtains  of  the  basilic. 
To  Herod,  who  then  reigned  in  Galilee,  the 
enemies  of  Jesus  addressed  themselves,  to 
wreak  their  vengeance  on  the  JSTazarene. 
Had  Herod  consulted  his  own  inclination,  he 
would  have  ordered  Jesus  immediately  to  be 
put  to  death;  but,  though  proud  of  his  royal 
dignity,  yet  he  was  afraid  of  committing  an 
act  that  might  diminish  his  influence  with 
the  Senate.  Herod  called  on  me  one  day  at 
the  Pretorium,  and  on  rising  to  take  leave, 
after  some  insignificant  conversation,  he 
asked  me  what  was  my  opinion  concerning 
the  ^azarene.  I  replied  that  Jesus  appear- 
ed to  be  one  of  those  great  philosophers  that 
great  nations  sometimes  produce,   that  his 


ACTA   PI L ATI.  59 

doctrines  are  by  no  means  sacrilegious,  and 
that  the  intention  of  Kome  was  to  leave  him 
to  that  freedom  of  speech  which  was  justi- 
fied by  his  actions.  Herod  smiled  malicious- 
ly, and  saluting  me  with  an  ironical  respect, 
he  departed. 

The  great  feast  of  the  Jews  was  approach- 
ing, and  the  intention  was  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  popular  exultation  which  always 
manifests  itself  at  the  solemnities  of  a  pass- 
over.  The  city  was  overflowing  with  a 
tumultuous  populace  clamoring  for  the  death 
of  the  ]^azarene.  My  emissaries  informed 
me  that  the  treasure  of  the  Temple  had  been 
employed  in  bribing  the  people.  The  danger 
was  pressing.  A  Roman  centurion  had 
been  insulted.  I  wrote  to  the  prefect  of 
Syria  for  a  hundred  foot  soldiers,  and  as 
many  cavalry.  He  declined.  I  saw  myself 
alone,  with  a  handful  of  veterans,  in  the  midst 
of  a  rebellious  city,  too  weak  to  suppress  a 


60  ACTA  PILATI. 

disorder,  and  having  no  other  choice  left  bnt 
to  tolerate  it.  They  had  seized  upon  Jesus; 
and  the  seditious  rabble,  although  they  had 
nothing  to  fear  from  the  Pretorium,  believing 
with  their  leaders  that  I  winked  at  their  se- 
dition, continued  vociferating,  "  Crucify 
him!  crucify  him!"  Three  powerful  parties 
had  combined  together  at  that  time  against 
Jesus.  First,  the  Herodians  and  the  Sad- 
ducees,  whose  seditious  conduct  seemed  to 
have  proceeded  from  double  motives.  They 
hated  the  Nazarene,  and  were  impatient  of 
the  Roman  yoke.  They  could  never  forgive 
me  for  having  entered  the  holy  city  with 
banners  that  bore  the  image  of  the  Roman 
Emperor,  and,  although  in  this  instance  I 
had  committed  a  fatal  error,  yet  the  sacrilege 
did  not  appear  less  heinous  in  their  eyes. 
Another  grievance,  also,  rankled  in  their 
bosoms.  I  had  proposed  to  employ  a  part 
of  the  treasure   of  the   Temple  in   erecting 


ACTA  PILATI.  61 

edifices  of  public  utility.  My  proposal  was 
scowled  at.  The  Pharisees  were  the  avowed 
enemies  of  Jesus.  They  cared  not  for  the 
government.  They  bore  with  bitterness  the 
severe  reprimands  which  the  ^azarene  for 
three  years  had  been  continually  throwing 
out  against  them  wherever  he  went.  Too 
Aveak  and  pusillanimous  to  act  by  themselves, 
they  had  embraced  the  quarrels  of  the  Hero- 
dians  and  the  Sadducees.  Besides  these 
three  parties,  I  had  to  contend  against  the 
reckless  and  profligate  populace,  always 
ready  to  join  a  sedition,  and  to  profit  by  the 
disorder  and  confusion  that  resulted  there- 
from. 

Jesus  was  dragged  before  the  high  priest 
and  condemned  to  death.  It  was  then  that 
the  high  priest,  Caiaphas,  performed  a  deri- 
sory act  of  submission.  He  sent  his  prisoner 
to  me  to  pronounce  his  condemnation,  and 
secure  his  execution.^     I  answered  him,  that 


62  ACTA  PILATI. 

as  Jesus  was  a  Galilean,  the  affair  came  in 
Herod's  jurisdiction,  and  ordered  him  to  be 
sent  hither.  The  wily  tetrarch  professed  hu- 
mility, and  protesting  his  preference  to  the 
Lieutenant  of  Caesar,  he  committed  the 
fate  of  the  man  to  my  hands.  Soon  my 
palace  assumed  the  aspect  of  a  besieged 
citadel.  Every  moment  increased  the  num- 
ber of  the  seditionists.  Jerusalem  was  in- 
undated with  crowds  from  the  mountains  of 
]S^azareth.  All  Judea  appeared  to  be  pour- 
ing into  the  devoted  city.  I  had  taken  a 
wife^ — a  girl  from  among  the  Gauls — who 
professed  to  see  into  futurity — weeping  and 
throwing  herself  at  my  feet — "  Beware,"  said 
she  to  me,  "  beware,  and  touch  not  that 
man,  for  he  is  holy.  Last  night  I  saw  him 
in  a  vision.  He  was  walking  on  the  waters. 
He  was  flying  on  the  wings  of  the  winds. 
He  spoke  to  the  tempest,  and  to  the  fishes  of 
the  lake — all  were  obedient  to  him.     Behold ! 


ACTA  PILATI.  63 

the  torrent  in  Mount  Ivedron  flows  with 
blood,  the  statues  of  Cassar  are  filled  with 
Gemoniae,^  the  columns  of  the  Interium  have 
given  away,  and  the  sun  is  veiled  in  mourn- 
ing, like  a  vestal  in  the  tomb.  O  Pilate! 
evil  awaits  thee  if  thou  wilt  not  listen  to  the 
vows  of  thy  wife.  Dread  the  curse  of  a 
Roman  Senate,  dread  the  powers  of  Caesar." 
By  this  time  the  marble  stairs  groaned 
under  the  weight  of  the  multitude.  The 
jN^azarene  was  brought  back  to  me.  I  pro- 
ceeded to  the  hall  of  justice,  followed  by  my 
guard,  and  asked  the  people,  in  a  severe  tone, 
what  they  demanded.  "  The  death  of  the 
iS^azarene,"  was  the  reply.  "  For  what 
crime?"  "  He  has  blasphemed.  He  has 
prophesied  the  ruin  of  the  Temple.  He  calls 
himself  the  Son  of  God,  the  Messiah,  the 
King  of  the  Jews."  "  Roman  justice,"  said 
I,  "punishes  not  such  offenses  with  death." 
"  Crucify  him,  crucify  him!"   belched   forth 


64  ACTA    PILATI. 

the  relentless  rabble.  The  vociferations  of 
the  infuriated  mob  shook  the  palace  to  its 
foundations.  There  Avas  but  one  who  ap- 
peared to  be  calm  in  the  midst  of  the  vast 
multitude.  It  was  the  ^NTazarene.  After 
many  fruitless  attempts  to  protect  him  from 
this  fury  of  his  merciless  persecutors,  I 
adopted  a  measure  Avhich,  at  the  moment, 
appeared  to  me  to  be  the  only  one  that  could 
save  his  life.  I  ordered  him  to  be  scourged, 
then  calling  for  an  ewer,  I  washed  my  hands* 
in  the  presence  of  the  multitude,  thereb}^ 
signifying  to  them  my  disapproval  of  the 
deed.  But  in  vain.  It  was  his  life  that  these 
wi-etches  thirsted  for.  Often  in  our  civil 
commotions  have  I  witnessed  the  furious 
animosity  of  the  multitude,  but  nothing  could 
be  compared  to  what  I  witnessed  in  the  pres- 
ent instance.  It  might  have  been  truly  said, 
that  on  this  occasion  all  the  phantoms  of  the 
infernal  regions  had  assembled  at  Jerusalem. 


ACTA  PILATI.  65 

The  crowd  appeared  not  to  walk;  they  were 
l3orne  off,  and  whirled  as  a  vortex,  rolling 
along  like  living  waves,  from  the  portals  of 
the  Pretorium  even  nnto  Mount  Zion,  with 
howlings,  screams,  shrieks,  and  vociferations, 
such  as  were  never  heard  in  the  seditions  of 
the  Panonia,  or  in  the  tumult  of  the  forum. 

By  degrees  tlie  day  darkened  like  a  winter's 
twilight,  such  as  had  been  at  the  death  of 
the  great  Julius  Caesar.  It  was  likewise 
towards  the  ides  of  March. 

I,  the  continued  governor  of  a  rebellious 
province,  was  leaning  against  a  column  of 
my  basilic,  contemplating  athwart  the  dreary 
gloom  of  these  fiends  of  tartars  dragging  to 
execution  the  innocent  IS^azarene.  All 
around  me  was  deserted.  Jerusalem  had 
vomited  forth  her  indAvellers  through  the 
funeral  gate  that  leads  to  the  Gemonica.  An 
air  of  desolation  and  sadness  enveloped  me. 
My  guards  had  joined  the  cavalry,  and   the 


66  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

centurion,  to  display  a  shadow  of  power,  was 
endeavoring  to  keep  order.  I  was  left  alone, 
and  m}^  breaking  heart  admonished  me  that 
what  was  passing  at  that  moment  appertained 
rather  to  the  history  of  the  gods  than  that  of 
man.  A  loud  clamor  was  heard  proceeding 
from  Golgotha,  which,  borne  on  the  winds, 
seemed  to  announce  an  agony  such  as  had 
never  been  heard  by  mortal  ears.  Dark 
clouds  lowered  over  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple, 
and,  settling  over  the  city,  covered  it  with  a 
veil.  So  dreadful  were  the  signs  that  were 
seen,  both  in  the  heavens  and  on  the  earth, 
that  Dionysius,  the  Areopagite,^  is  reported 
to  have  exclaimed,  "  Either  the  author  of 
nature  is  suffering,  or  the  universe  is  falling 
apart." 

Towards  the  first  hour  of  the  iiight,^  I  threw 
my  mantle  around  me  and  went  down  into 
the  city,  toward  the  gates  of  Golgotha.  The 
sacrifice  was  consummated.     The  crowd  was 


ACTA  PILATI.  67 


returning  home;  still  agitated,  it  is  true;  but 
gloomy,  taciturn  and  desperate.  What  thej 
had  witnessed  had  stricken  them  with  terror 
and  remorse.  I  also  saw  my  little  Roman 
cohort  pass  by  mournfully,  the  standard- 
bearer  having  veiled  his  eagle  in  token  of 
grief,  and  I  overheard  some  of  the  soldiers 
murmuring  strange  words,  which  I  did  not 
understand.  Others  were  recounting  prod- 
igies almost  similar  to  those  which  had  so 
often  smitten  the  Romans  by  the  will  of  the 
gods.  Sometimes  groups  of  men  and  women 
would  halt,  then  looking  backward  towards 
Golgotha,  would  remain  motionless,  in 
expectation  of  witnessing  some  new  prodigy. 
I  returned  to  the  Pretorium,  sad  and  pen- 
sive. On  ascending  the  stairs — the  steps  of 
which  were  still  stained  with  the  blood  of  the 
^Nazarene — I  perceived  an  old  man  in  a  sup- 
pliant posture,  and  behind  him  several  women 
in  tears.     He  threw  himself  at  my  feet  and 


68  ACTA  PILaTI. 

wept  bitterly.  It  is  painful  to  see  an  old 
man  weep. 

"  Father,"  said  I  to  him  mildly,  ''who  are 
you  and  what  is  your  request?" 

"  I  am  Joseph  of  Arimathea,"  rex3lied  he, 
"and  am  come  to  beg  of  you,  upon  my  knees, 
the  permission  to  bury  Jesus  of  Nazareth." 

"  Your  prayer  is  granted,"  said  I  to  him, 
and  at  the  same  time  ordered  Manlius  to  take 
some  soldiers  with  him  to  superintend  the 
interment,  lest  it  should  be  profaned. 

A  few  days  after,  the  sepulchre  was  found 
empty.  His  disciples  published  all  over  the 
country  that  Jesus  had  risen  from  the  dead, 
as  he  had  foretold.  A  last  duty  remained 
for  me  to  perform,  and  that  was  to  communi- 
cate to  you  these  deplorable  events.  I  did 
it  on  the  same  night  that  followed  the  fatal 
catastrophe,  and  had  just  finished  the  com- 
munication when  day  l^egan  to  dawn.  At 
that  moment  the   sound  of  clarions  playing 


ACTA   PI  L  AT  I.  09 

the  air  of  Diana,  struck  my  ear.  (-a sting 
111}'  eye  towards  the  CaBsareaii  gate  I  beheld 
a  troop  of  soldiers,  and  heard  at  a  distance 
other  trumpets  sounding  Caesar's  march.  Jt 
was  the  reinforcement  that  had  heen promis- 
ed me.  Two  thousand  chosen  troops  who, 
to  liasten  their  arrival,  had  marched  all  night. 
"  It  has  been  decreed  by  the  fates,"  cried  1, 
wringing  my  hands,  ''  that  the  great  iniquity 
should  be  accomplished;  that  for  the  pur- 
pose of  averting  the  deeds  of  yesterday, 
troops  should  arrive  to-day !  Cruel  destiny, 
how  thou  sportest  Avith  the  affairs  of  mor- 
tals!" It  was  but  too  true,  what  the  Naza-  ^ 
rene  exclaimed  while  writhing  on  the  cross: 
"  All  is  consummated." 


^icpi^¥0RIC7IIj*^ 


AND 


^IcCl^ITICJ^Ii-I^NQI^E^.* 


(Note  a,  page  47.) 

a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of 

Pontius  Pilate. 

Pontius  Pilate  was  the  sixth  Koman  Proc- 
urator of  Juclea,  (Matt.  xxvii:2;  Mark 
XV :  1;  Luke  in:  1;  John  xviii-xix),  under 
whom  our  Lord  taught,  suffered  and  died 
(Acts  m:  13;  tv:27;  xiii:28;  ITim.  vi:  13; 
Tacit.  Annal.  xv:44).  The  testimony  of 
Tacitus  on  this  point  is  no  less  clear  than  it 
is  important;  for  it  fixes  beyond  a  doubt  the 
time  when  the  foundations  of  our  religion 
were  laid.  The  words  of  the  great  historian 
are:  "Aactomominis  ejus  Christus,  Tiherio 
Imperitante  per  Procuratorem  Pontmm 
Pilatum  supjjlicio  affectus  est. — 'The  author 
of  that  name  (Christian)  or  sect  Avas  Christ, 


74  ACTA  PILATI. 

who  was  capitally  punished  in  the  reign  of 
Tiberius  by  Pontius  Pilate." 

Pilate  was  the  successor  of  Valerius  Gra- 
tus,  and  governed  Judea,  in  the  reign  of 
Tiberius.  He  held  his  office  for  a  period  of 
ten  years.  The  agreement  on  this  point  be- 
tween the  accounts  in  the  ]N^ew  Testament 
and  those  supplied  by  Josephus,  is  entire  and 
satisfactory.  It  has  been  exhibited  in  detail 
by  the  learned,  accurate  and  candid  Lardnei* 
(Vol.  I,  150-389,  Lond.  1827). 

Pilate's  conduct  in  his  office  was,  in  many 
respects,  highly  culpable.  Josephus  has  re- 
corded two  instances  in  which  Pilate  acted 
very  tyrannically  (Antiq.  xviii:3,  I;  comp. 
De  Bell.  Jud.  ii:  9,  2,  sq.)  in  regard  to  the 
Jews.  "  But  now  Pilate,  the  Procurator  of 
Judea,  removed  the  army  from  Caesarea  to 
Jerusalem,  to  take  their  winter-quarters 
there,  in  order  to  abolish  the  Jewish  laws. 
So   he   introduced    Csesar's    effigies,    which 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  75 

were  upon  the  ensigns,  and  brought  them  into 
the  city;  whereas  our  law  forbids  us  the 
very  making  of  images;  on  which  account 
the  former  procurators  were  wont  to  make 
their  entry  into  the  city  with  such  ensigns 
as  had  not  those  ornaments.  Pilate  was  the 
first  who  brought  those  images  to  Jerusalem, 
and  set  them  up  there:  which  was  done 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  people,  because 
it  was  done  in  the  night-time;  but,  as  soon 
as  they  knew  it,  they  came  in  multitudes  to 
Csesarea,  and  interceded  with  Pilate  many 
days,  that  he  would  remove  the  images;  and 
when  he  would  not  grant  their  request,  be- 
cause this  w^ould  tend  to  the  injury  of  Caesar, 
while  they  yet  persevered  in  their  request, 
on  the  sixth  day  he  ordered  his  soldiers  to 
have  their  weapons  privately,  while  he  came 
and  sat  upon  his  judgement-seat;  which  seat 
was  so  prepared  in  the  open  place  of  the  city, 
that  it  concealed  the  army  that  lay  ready  to 


76  ACTA  PILATI. 

oppress  them :  and  when  the  Jews  petitioned 
him  again,  he  gave  a  signal  to  the  soldiers 
to  encompass  them  round,  and  threatened 
that  their  punishment  should  be  no  less  than 
immediate  death,  unless  they  would  leave 
off  disturbing  him,  and  go  their  ways  home. 
But  they  threw  themselves  on  the  ground, 
and  laid  their  necks  bare,  and  said  they 
would  take  their  death  very  willingly,  rather 
than  the  wisdom  of  their  laws  should  be 
transgressed;  upon  which  Pilate  was  deeply 
affected  with  their  resolution  to  keep  their 
laws  inviolable,  and  presentl}^  ordered  the 
images  to  be  carried  back  from  Jerusalem  to 
Caesarea." 

"  But  Pilate  undertook  to  bring  a  cm'rent 
of  water  to  Jerusalem,  and  did  it  with  the 
sacred  money,  and  derived  the  origin  of  the 
stream  from  a  distance  of  200  furlongs. 
However  the  Jews  were  not  pleased  with 
what  had  been  done  about  this  water;  and 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  11 

many  ten  thousands  of  the  people  got  together 
and  made  a  clamor  agamst  him,  and  insisted 
that  he  should  leave  off  that  design.  Some 
of  them  also  used  reproaches,  and  abused  the 
man,  as  crowds  of  such  people  usually  do.  So 
he  habited  a  great  number  of  his  soldiers  in 
their  habit,  who  carried  daggers  under  their 
garments,  and  sent  them  to  a  place  where 
they  might  surround  them.  He  bid  the  Jews 
himself  go  away;  but  they  boldly  casting 
I'eproaches  upon  him,  he  gave  the  soldiers 
the  signal  which  had  been  before  agreed  on, 
who  laid  upon  them  much  greater  blows  than 
Pilate  had  commanded  them,  and  equally 
punished  those  that  were  tumultuous  and 
those  that  were  not;  nor  did  they  spare  them 
in  the  least;  and  since  the  people  were  un- 
armed, and  were  caught  by  men  prepared 
for  what  they  were  about,  there  were  a  great 
number  of  them  slain  by   this   means,    and 


(I) 


78  ACTA  PILATI. 

others  of  them  ran  away  wounded.  And 
thus  an  end  was  put  to  this  sedition." 

"  We  have,"  says  Lardner,  ''  another  at- 
tempt of  Pilate's  of  the  same  nature,  men- 
tioned in  the  letter  which  Agrippa  the  Elder 
sent  to  Caligula,  as  this  letter  is  given  us  by 
Philo.  In  some  particulars  it  has  a  great 
resemblance  with  the  story  Josephus  has 
told  of  Pilate's  bringing  the  ensigns  into 
Jerusalem,  and  in  othei-s  it  is  very  dilfei'ent 
from  it;  which  has  given  occasion  to  some 
leanied  men  to  suppose  that  Philo  has  been 
luistaken.  For  my  own  part,  as  T  make  no 
doubt  but  Josephus'  account  of  the  ensigns 
is  true,  so  I  think  that  Philo  may  also  be  relied 
on  for  the  truth  of  a  fact  he  has  mentioned, 
as  happening  in  his  own  time  in  Judea,  and 
consequently,  I  judge  them  to  be  two  differ- 
ent facts." 

Agrippa,  reckoning  up  to  Caligula  the 
several  favors   conferred  on  the  Jews  by  the 


CniTICAL  J^^OTES.  1\) 

Imperial  fiimil}^,  says:  "Pilate  was  procu- 
rator of  Judea.  He,  not  so  much  out  of 
respect  to  Tiberius  as  a  malicious  intent  to 
vex  the  people,  dedicates  gilt  shields,  and 
places  them  in  Herod's  palace  within  the  holy 
city,  lliere  Avas  no  figure  upon  them,  nor 
anything  else  which  is  forbidden,  except  an 
inscription  which  expressed  these  two 
things — the  name  of  the  person  who  dedi- 
cated them,  and  of  him  to  whom  they  were 
dedicated.  When  the  people  perceived  what 
had  been  done,  they  desired  that  this  inno- 
vation of  the  shields  might  be  rectified;  that 
their  ancient  customs  which  had  been  pre- 
served through  so  many  ages,  and  had  hither- 
to been  untouched  by  kings  and  emperors, 
might  not  now  be  violated.  He  refused  their 
demands  with  roughness,  such  was  his 
temper,  fierce  and  untractable.  They  then 
cried  out.  Do  not  you  raise  a  sedition  your- 
self;    do  not  you  disturb  the  peace  by  your 


80  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

illegal  practices.  It  is  not  Tiberius'  pleas- 
ure that  any  of  our  laws  should  be  broken 
in  upon.  If  you  have  received  any  edict 
or  letter  from  the  emperor  to  this  purpose, 
produce  it,  that  we  may  leave  you,  and  depute 
an  embassy  to  him,  and  entreat  him  to  revoke 
his  orders.  This  put  him  out  of  all  temper; 
for  he  was  afraid  if  they  should  send  an  em- 
bassy, they  might  discover  the  many  mal- 
administrations of  his  government;  his  extor- 
tions, his  unjust  decrees,  his  inhuman  cruel- 
ties. This  reduced  him  to  the  utmost  per- 
plexity. On  the  one  hand  he  was  afraid  to 
remove  things  that  had  been  once  dedicated, 
and  was  also  miwilling  to  do  a  favor  to  men 
that  were  his  subjects;  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  kncAV  very  well  the  inflexible  se- 
verity of  Tiberius.  The  chief  men  of  the 
nation  observing  this,  and  perceiving  that  he 
repented  of  what  he  had  done,  though  he  en- 
deavored to  conceal  it,  wrote  a  most  humble 


CniTICAL  NOTi:S.  81 

and  submissive  letter  to  Tiberius.  It  is  need- 
less to  say  how  he  was  provoked  when  he 
read  the  account  of  Pilate's  speeches  and 
threatenings,the  event  showing  it  sufficient!}  . 
For  he  soon  sent  a  letter  to  Pilate,  reprimand- 
ing him  for  so  audacious  a  proceeding;  re- 
quiring, also,  that  the  shields  be  removed. 
And,  accordingly  they  were  carried  from  the 
metropolis  to  Caesarea  by  the  seaside,  called 
Sebaste,  from  3^our  great  grandfather,  that 
they  might  be  placed  in  the  temple  there 
consecrated  to  him,  and  there  they  were  re- 
posited." 

To  the  Samaritans,  also,  Pilate  conducted 
himself  unjustly  and  cruelly.  His  own  mis- 
conduct led  the  Samaritans  to  take  a  step 
which  in  itself  does  not  appear  seditious  or 
revolutionary,  when  Pilate  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity to  slay  many  of  the  people,  not  only 
in  the  fight  which  ensued,  but  also  in  cold 
blood   after  they  had  given   themselves  up. 


82  ACTA    PI L ATI. 

"  But  when  this  tumult  was  appeased,  the 
Samaritan  Senate  sent  an  embassy  to  Yitel- 
lius,  now  President  of  Syria,  and  accused 
Pilate  of  the  murder  of  those  who  had  been 
slain.  So  Vitellius  sent  Marcellus,  a  friend 
of  his,  to  take  care  of  the  affairs  of  Judea, 
and  ordered  Pilate  to  go  to  Pome  to  answer 
before  the  Emperor  to  the  accusations  of  the 
Jews.  Pilate,  when  he  had  tarried  ten  years 
in  Judea,  made  haste  to  Pome,  and  this  in 
obedience  to  the  orders  of  Yitellus,  which  he 
durst  not  contradict;  but  before  he  could 
get  to  Pome,  Tiberius  was  dead."  (Joseph. 
Antiq.  xvTir.  4.  2.)  This  removal  took  place 
before  the  passover,  in  A.  D.  36 — probably 
about  September  or  October,  A.  D.  35 ;  Pilate 
must,  therefore,  as  he  spent  ten  years  in 
Judea,  have  entered  on  his  government  about 
October,  A.  D.  25,  or  at  least  before  the 
Passover,  A.  D.  26,  in  the  twelfth  year  of 
Tiberius'  sole  empire.  (Compare  Lardner  I, 
391,  sq.;  Winer,  Peal-worterb.). 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  83 

To  be  put  out  of  his  government  by  Vitellus, 
on  the  complaint  of  the  people  of  his  prov- 
ince, must  have  been  a  very  grevious  morti- 
fication to  Pilate;  and  though  the  emperor 
was  dead  before  he  reached  Rome,  he  did  not 
long  enjoy  such  impunity  as  guilt  permits; 
lie  was  banished  to  Vienna  in  Gaul,  and  as 
Eusebius  (Chron,  p.  78)  states,  he  shortly 
afterwards  made  way  with  himself,  out  of 
vexation  for  his  many  misfortunes,  about  A. 
D.  38. 

Owing  to  the  atrocity  of  the  deed  in  which 
Pilate  took  a  principal  part,  a  very  unfavor- 
able vicAV  has  generally  been  entertained  of 
his  character.  Still  it  is  interesting  to  note 
that  the  early  Christi^a:is  entertained  a  deep 
appreciation  of  his  efforts  to  save  Jesus. 
Tertullian,  as  already  quoted  on  page  21, 
uses  the  expression,  "  Pilate  himself  in  his 
conscience  already  a  christian."  The  Evang. 
]N^icod.  1 :  13.  speaks  of  him  as  "  circumsized 


84  ACTA  PILaTI. 

ill  heart."  According  to  one  tradition  he 
died  a  Christian  Martyr,  and  to  this  day  the 
Abyssinian  Church  celebrates  the  event  on 
June  25. 

There  is  great  weight  in  the  following 
lano'uaofe  of  a  oTcat  critic: 

''  If  now  we  wish  to  form  a  judgement  of 
Pilate's  character,  we  easily  see  that  he  was 
(me  of  that  large  class  of  men  who  aspire  to 
pubhc  offices,  not  from  a  pure  and  lofty  de- 
sire of  benefiting  the  public  and  advancing 
the  good  of  the  world,  but  from  selfish  and 
personal  considerations,  from  a  love  of  dis- 
tinction, from  a  love  of  power,  from  a  love  of 
self-indulgence;  being  destitute  of  any  fixed 
principles,  and  having  no  aim  but  office  and 
influence,  they  act  right  only  by  chance  and 
when  c(mvenient,  and  are  wholly  incapable 
of  pursuing  a  consistent  course,  or  of  acting 
with  firmness  and  self-denial  in  cases  in  which 
the  preservation  of  integrity  requires  the  ex- 
ercise of  these  qualities.  Pilate  was  obviously 
a  man  of  weak,  and  therefore,  with  his  temp- 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  85 

tatioiis,  of  corrupt  character.  The  view 
given  in  the  ApostoUcal  Constitutions  (v.  14), 
where  unnianHness  is  ascribed  to  him,  we  take 
to  be  correct.  This  want  of  strength  will 
readily  account  for  his  failure  to  rescue  Jesus 
fi-om  the  rage  of  his  enemies,  and  also  for  the 
acts  of  injustice  and  cruelty  wdiich  he  prac- 
ticed in  his  government — -acts  which,  con- 
sidered in  themselves,  wear  a  deeper  dye 
than  does  the  conduct  which  he  observed  in 
surrendering  Jesus  to  the  malice  of  the  Jews, 
And  this  same  weakness  may  serve  to  ex- 
plain to  the  reader  how  much  influence  would 
be  exerted  on  this  unjust  jndge,  not  only  by 
the  stern  bigotry,  and  persecuting  wrath  of 
the  Jewish  priesthood,  but  specially  by  the 
not  concealed  intimations  which  they  threw 
out  against  Pilate,  that,  if  he  liberated  Jesus, 
he  w^as  no  friend  of  Tiberius,  and  must  ex- 
pect to  have  to  give  an  account  of  his  C(m- 
duct  at  Home.  And  that  this  w  as  no  idle 
threat,  nothing  beyond  the  limits  of  proba- 
bility, Pilate's  subsequent  deposition  by 
Vitellius  shows  very  plainly;  nor  could  the 
(J) 


86  ACTA  PILATI. 

procurator  have  been  ignorant  either  of  the 
stern  determination  of  the  Jewish  character, 
or  of  the  offence  he  had  l)y  his  acts  given  to 
the  heads  of  the  nation,  or  of  the  insecurity, 
at  that  very  hour,  when  the  contest  between 
him  and  the  priests  w^as  proceeding  regarding 
the  innocent  victim  whom  they  histed  to 
destroy,  of  his  own  position  in  the  office  which 
he  held,  and  which,  of  course,  he  desired  to 
retain.  On  the  whole,  then,  viewing  the  en- 
tire conduct  of  Pilate,  his  previous  iniquities 
as  well  as  his  bearing  on  the  condemnation 
of  Jesus — viewing  his  own  actual  position 
and  the  malignit}^  of  the  Jews,  we  cannot, 
we  confess,  give  our  vote  with  those  who  have 
passed  the  severest  condemnation  on  this 
weak  and  guilt}^  governor."  (See  Kitto's 
Cyclopaedia  of  Biblical  Literature ;  Winer's 
Real  Woerterbuch,  and  Farrar's  Life  of 
Christ.) 


(Note  b,  page  47.) 

a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of 
The  Emperor  Tiberius. 

Claudius  Drusus  N^ero  Tiberius,  the  Romau 
emperor  after  the  death  of  Augustus,  was 
deceuded  from  the  family  of  the  Ctaudii.  In 
his  early  years  he  commanded  popularity  by 
entertaining  the  populace  with  magnificent 
shoAVS  and  fights  of  gladiators,  and  he  gained 
some  applause  in  the  funeral  oration  which 
he  pronounced  over  his  father,  though  onl}' 
nine  years  old.  His  first  appearance  in  the 
Koman  armies  was  under  Augustus,  in  the 
war  against  the  Cantabri,  and  afterwards,  in 
the  capacity  of  General,  he  gained  victories 
in  difierent  parts  of  the  Empire,  and  was 
rewarded  with  a  triumph. 


88  ACTA   PILATI. 

Yet  in  the  midst  of  his  glory,  Tiberius  fell 
under  the  displeasure  of  Augustus,  and  re- 
tired to  Rhodes,  where  he  continued  for  seven 
years  as  an  exile,  till  by  the  influence  of  his 
mother,  Livia,  with  the  emperor,  he  was  re- 
called. His  return  to  Rome  was  the  more 
glorious;  he  had  the  command  of  the  Roman 
armies  in  Illyricum,  Pannonia,  andDalmatia, 
and  seemed  to  divide  the  sovereign  power 
with  Augustus. 

At  the  death  of  this  celebrated  emperor, 
Tiberius,  who  had  been  adopted,  assumed 
the  reins  of  government;  and  while  with 
dissimulation  and  aflected  modesty  he  wished 
to  decline  the  dangerous  oflice,  he  found  time 
to  try  the  fidelity  of  his  friends,  and  to  make 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Romans  believe  that 
he  was  invested  with  the  purple,  not  from 
his  own  choice,  but  by  the  recommendation 
of  Augustus  and  the  urgent  entreaties  of 
the  Roman   Senate.     The  beginning  of  his 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  89 


reign  seemed  to  [)r{)iiii8e  traiKiiiillit}'  to  the 
world.  TiljeriuvS  was  a  watchful  guardian 
of  the  pubhe  peace,  he  was  a  friend  of  justice, 
and  never  assumed  tiie  sounding  title  which 
must  disgust  a  free  naticm;  but  he  was  satis- 
fied to  say  of  himself,  that  he  was  the  master 
of  his  slaves,  the  general  of  his  soldiers,  and 
the  father  of  the  citizens  of  Eome.  That 
seeming  moderation  however,  which  was  but 
the  fruit  of  the  deepest  policy,  soon  disa})- 
peared,  and  Tiberius  w  as  viewed  in  his  real 
character.  His  ingratitude  to  his  mothei' 
livia,  to  whose  intrigues  he  was  indebted 
for  the  purple,  his  cruelty  to  his  wife  Julia, 
and  his  tyrannical  oppression  and  murder  of 
many  noble  senators,  rendered  him  odious 
to  the  people,  and  suspected  even  by  his 
most  intimate  favorites. 

The  armies  mutinied  in  Pannonia  and 
(lermany,  but  the  tumults  were  silenced  by 
the  prudence  of  the  generals  and  the  fidelity 


90  ACTA  PILATI. 

of  the  officers,  and  the  factious  demagogues 
were  abandoned  to  punishment.  This  acted 
as  a  check  on  Tiberius  at  Rome;  he  knew 
from  thence,  as  his  successors  experienced, 
that  his  power  was  precarious,  and  his  very 
existence  in  perpetual  danger.  He  continued, 
as  he  had  begun,  to  pay  the  greatest  deference 
to  the  Senate;  all  libels  against  him  he  dis- 
regarded, and  observed,  that  in  a  free  city 
the  thoughts  and  the  tongue  of  every  man 
should  be  free.  The  taxes  were  gradually 
lessened  and  luxury  restrained  by  the  salu- 
tary regulations,  as  well  as  by  the  prevailing- 
example  and  frugality  of  the  Emperor. 
While  Kome  exhibited  a  scene  of  peace  and 
public  tranquillity,the  barbarians  were  sever- 
ally defeated  on  the  borders  of  the  empire, 
and  Tiberius  gained  new  honors  by  the  ac- 
tivity and  valour  of  Germanicus  and  his  other 
faithful  lieutenants.  Yet  the  triumphs  of 
Germanicus    were    beheld    with    jealousy. 


CRITICAL  N0TE8.  91 

Tiberius  dreaded  his  power;  he  Avas  en- 
vious of  his  popularity;  and  the  death  of 
that  celebrated  general  in  Antioch  was,  as 
some  suppose,  accelerated  by  poison  and 
the  secret  resentment  of  the  emperor.  Xot 
only  his  relations  and  friends,  but  the  great 
and  opulent  were  sacrificed  to  his  ambition, 
cruelty  and  avarice;  and  there  was  scarce  in 
Rome  one  single  family  that  did  not  reproach 
Tiberius  for  the  loss  of  a  brother,  a  father  or 
a  husband.  He  at  last  retired  to  the  island 
of  Capreae,  on  the  coast  of  Campania,  where 
he  buried  himself  in  unlawful  pleasures.  The 
care  of  the  empire  was  entrusted  to  favorites, 
among  whom  Sejanus  shone  for  awhile  with 
uncommon  splendor.  In  his  solitary  retreat 
the  emperor  proposed  rewards  to  such  as  in- 
vented new  pleasures,  or  could  procure  fresh 
luxuries.  He  forgot  his  age  as  well  as  his 
dignity,  and  disgraced  himself  by  the  most 
unnatural  vices  and  enormous   indulgences 


92  ACTA  PILATI. 


which  can  draw  a  bhish,  even  on  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  most  debauched  and  aban- 
doned. 

While  tlie  emperor  was  lost  to  himself  and 
the  w^orld,  the  provinces  were  harassed  on 
every  side  by  the  barbarians,  and  ^Jlberius 
found  himself  insulted  1)}^  those  enemies 
whom  hitherto  he  had  seen  fall  prostrate  at 
liis  feet  with  every  mark  of  submissive  adu- 
hition.  At  last,  grown  weak  and  helpless 
tln-oug'h  intirmities,  he  thought  of  his  ap- 
proaching dissolution;  and  as  he  well  knew 
that  Rome  could  not  exist  without  a  head,  he 
nominated  as  liis  successoi-  (\iius  (Caligula. 
Many  might  enquire  why  a  youth  natui'ally 
so  vicious  and  abandoned  as  (^aius  was  cho- 
sen to  be  the  master  of  an  extensive  empire: 
but  Tiberius  wished  his  own  craelties  to  be 
tbrgotten  in  the  barbarities  which  might  be 
displayed  in  the  reign  of  his  successor,  whose 
natural    propensities  he  had  well  defined,  in 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  93 

saying  of  Caligula,  that  he  bred  a  serpent  for 
the  Roman  people,  and  a  Phaeton  for  the 
rest  of  the  empire.  Tiberius  died  at  Misenum 
the  16th  of  March,  A.  D.  37,  in  the  78th  year 
of  his  age,  after  a  reign  of  22  years,  6  months 
and  26  days.  Caligula  was  accused  of 
having  hastened  his  end  by  suffocating  him. 
The  joy  was  universal  when  his  death  was 
known;  and  the  people  of  Kome,  in  the  midst 
of  sorrow,  had  a  moment  to  rejoice,  heedless 
of  the  calamities  which  awaited  them  in  the 
succeeding  reigns.  The  body  of  Tiberius 
was  conveyed  to  Rome  and  burnt  with  great 
solemnity.  A  funeral  oration  was  pro- 
nounced by  Caligula,  who  seemed  to  forget 
his  benefactor  while  he  expatiated  on  the 
praises  of  Augustus,  Germanicus  and  his 
own.  The  character  of  Tiberius  has  been 
examined  with  particular  attention  by  his- 
torians, and  his  reign  is  the  subject  of  the 
most  perfect  and   elegant  of  all  the  compo- 


94  ACTA   PILATI. 

sitions  of  Tacitus.  When  a  private  man, 
Tiberius  was  universally  esteemed;  when  he 
had  no  superior  he  w^as  proud,  arrogant, 
jealous  and  revengeful.  If  he  found  his  mili- 
tary operations  conducted  by  a  warlike  gen- 
eral, he  affected  moderation  and  virtue;  but 
when  he  got  rid  of  the  powerful  influence  of 
a  favorite,  he  was  tyrannical  and  dissolute. 
If,  as  some  observed,  he  had  lived  in  the  times 
of  the  Roman  republic,  he  might  have  been 
as  conspicuous  as  his  great  ancestors;  but 
the  sovereign  power  lodged  in  his  hands  ren- 
dered him  vicious  and  oppressive. 

Yet,  though  he  encouraged  informers  and 
favored  flattery,  he  blushed  at  the  mean  sur- 
vilities  of  the  Senate,  and  derided  the  adula- 
tion of  his  courtiers,  who  approached  him, 
he  said,  as  if  they  approached  a  savage  ele- 
phant. He  was  a  patron  of  learning,  he  was 
an  eloquent  and  ready  speaker,  and  dedica- 
ted some  part  of  his  time  to  study.     He  w^rote 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  95 


a  lyric  poem,  entitled,  '^  A  complaint  on  the 
death  of  Lucins  Caesar;"  as  also  some  Greek 
pieces  in  imitation  of  some  of  his  favorite 
anthors.  He  avoided  all  improper  expressions, 
and  all  foreign  words  he  wished  to  totally 
banish  from  the  Latin  tongue.  As  instances 
of  his  humanity,  it  has  been  recorded  that  he 
w^as  uncommonly  hberal  to  the  people  of 
Asia  Minor,  whose  habitations  had  been  des- 
troyed by  a  violent  earthquake,  A.  D.  17. 
One  of  his  officers  wished  him  to  increase 
the  taxes.  No,  said  Tiberius,  a  good  shep- 
herd must  shear,  but  not  flay  his  sheep.  The 
Senators  wished  to  call  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, in  which  he  was  born,  by  his  name,  in 
imitation  of  J.  C'gesar  and  Augustus,  in  the 
months  of  July  and  August;  but  this  he  re- 
fused, saying:  "  What  will  you  do,  conscript 
fathers,  if  you  have  thirteen  Caesars?"  Like 
the  rest  of  the  emperors,  he  recei^  ed  divine 
honors  after  death,    and   even  during   life. 


90  ACTA  FILATI. 

(From  Bibliotheca  Classica,  by  Lempriere. 
See  also  ^iehbuhr's  History  of  Rome,  Vol. 
I^^.  LecUire  LXI,  and  especially  Stahr,  Ti- 
berius, Leben,  Regieriiiig,  Charakter,  2cl  ed. 
1873). 


(Xote  c,  page  53.) 


Appeal  to  Cv?<:sar. 


From  the  whole  tone  of  the  Acta, — and 
it  is  fully  corroborated  by  contemporaneous 
history, — Pilate  was  anxious  to  avoid  an  ap- 
peal to  Caesar.  "  That  Caesar  was  the  dark 
and  jealous  Tiberius.  Up  to  this  period  the 
Jewish  nation,  when  they  had  complained  of 
the  tyranny  of  their  native  sovereigns,  had 
ever  obtained  a  favorable  hearing  at  Rome. 
Even  against  Herod  the  Great  their  charges 
had  been  received;  they  had  been  admitted 
to  a  public  audience ;  and  though  their  claim 
to  national  independence  at  the  death  of  that 
so^'ereign  had  not  been  allowed,  Archelaus 
had  received   his  government   with  limited 


98  ACTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

powers,  and,  on  the  complaint  of  the 
people,  had  been  removed  from  his  throne. 
In  short,  the  influence  of  that  attachment  io 
the  Csesarean  family,  which  had  obtained 
for  the  nation  distinguished  privileges  both 
from  Julius  and  Augustus,  had  not  yet  been 
effaced  by  that  character  of  turbulence  and 
insubordination  which  led  to  their  final 
ruin."  (Milman's  Hist,  of  Christianity,  page 
140). 


(Noted,  page  55.) 

The  Relations  of  the  Jewish  Government  to  the 
Roman. 

For  centuries  the  Romans  had  pursued  a 
policy  of  conquest,  until  in  the  days  of  Tibe- 
rius, according  to  the  best  authorities,  the 
population  of  the  Empire  was  about  120,000,- 
000.  "  The  subjugated  countries  that  lay 
beyond  the  limits  of  Italy  were  designated 
provinces."  In  reconstructing  a  conquered 
territory,  in  respect  to  its  legal  and  social 
life,  the  Romans  '^had  the  good  sense  to  act  in 
general,  with  prudence  and  mildness,  having 
regard  in  their  appointments  to  local  peculiar- 
ities and  existing  institutions,  so  far  as  the  in- 
tended adjunction  to  the  Roman  power  per- 
mitted,in  order  to  avoid  giving  the  provincials 


100  ACTA    FILATI, 

provocation  for  opposing  their  new  masters. 
Under  (ordinary  circnmstances,  the  govern- 
ment of  the  provinces  was  conducted  by  an- 
thorities  sent  for  the  purpose  from  Rome." 
''  The  pro-consuls,  propraetors,  and  proprse- 
torial  lieutenants,  when  about  to  proceed  in- 
to their  several  provinces,  received  instruc- 
tions for  their  guidance  from  the  Emperor; 
in  cases  in  which  they  were  found  insufficient, 
they  w  ere  to  apply  for  special  directions  to 
the  imperial  head  of  the  State."  "  There 
was  also  in  the  Senatorial  provinces  a  procu- 
rator [this  was  Pilate's  position],  who  raised 
the  incomes  intended,  not  for  the  treasury, 
but  fo]* the  Emperor's pri\y  purse ;  the  smaller 
provinces,  like  Judea,  which  belonged  to 
Syria,  were  altogether  governed  by  such." 

"  Criminal  justice  was  wholly  in  the  hands 
of  the  local  governor,  and  extended  not  only 
over  the  provincals,  but  the  Roman  citizens 
as  well ;    in  important  cases  the   Governors 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  101 

applied  for  a  decision  to  the  Emperor.  As 
the  Romans  carefully  abstained  from  making* 
any  changes  in  religions  matters,  so  in  Pal- 
estine the  judging  of  crimes  against  religion 
was  left  by  them  to  the  high-priest  and  the 
Sanhedrim,  even  so  far  as  condemnation  to 
death;  but  the  execution  of  the  sentence  de- 
pended on  the  procurator  (Joseph.  Antiq.  xx : 
9.  1;  Mark  xiv:  53,  55,  62,  65;  John  xviii: 
31).  The  Jews  at  least  during  the  time 
covered  by  the  Gospels,  enjoyed  the  free  ex- 
ercise of  their  religion.  They  had  their 
synagogues  or  temples  of  public  worship, 
where  they  served  God  without  molestation, 
streaming  thither  at  their  great  festivals  from 
all  parts  of  the  land,  and  making  what  offer- 
ings or  contributions  they  pleased." 

"  In  order  to  enforce  the  taxes,  and  gene- 
rally aid  the  procurator,  a  body  of  Roman 
soldiers  was  put  at  his  disposal,  which  had 
their   quarters  permanently  in  the  country, 


102  ACTA  PILATI. 

tlieir  head  station  being  at  C'^sarea."  ''  A 
portion  of  the  troop  was  always  stationed 
in  Jerusalem  at  the  Passover,  in  ordei'  to  aid 
in  preserving  the  peaee  [seepage  59].  They 
had  their  quarters  in  the  citadel  Antonia, 
Avhich  commanded  the  temple,  and  so  con- 
trolled the  city.  (Antiq.  xtx:  9.2;  xx:4. 
o;  Acts  XXI :  31.  sq;  xxii:24;  xxrn:23). 

"  The  Komans  and  Jews  first  came  into 
political  I'elations  about  B.  C  1(31,  when 
Judas  Maccabanis,  being  mo\ed  by  the 
great  and  widely  spread  military  renown  of 
the  Komans,  sent  an  embassy  to  Kome,  and 
formed  with  them  a  treaty  offensive  and  de- 
fensive, but  with  the  special  view  of  obtain- 
ing help  against  Demetrius,  King  of  Syria, 
(I  Mace,  viii;  Joseph.  Antiq.  xii:  10.6; 
Justin,  XXVI :  3)." 

Judea  l)ecame  a  Koman  province  B.  C.  63. 

'^  The  first  procurator  was  Copinus;  lie 
was  folloAved    by   Marcus  Ambivius;    then 


CBITICAL  JSWTKS.  108 

came  Ammius  Knfus,  in  whose  time  Augus- 
tus (lied,  A.  I).  14;  tlie  next  was  Valerius 
Grains,  who  was  appointed  bvTil^erius;  he 
continued  in  the  [)r()\  inee  eleven  veai's,  and 
was  then  succeeded  by  Pontius  Pihite,  whose 
government  lasted  ten  3'ears."  (Kitto's 
Cych)pa3(l..  article  Roman  Em])ire). 


(Note  e,  page  55.) 
Traditional  Sayings  of  Christ. 

In  connection  Avith  this  passage  of  the 
Acta,  it  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to 
see  some  of  the  sayings  attributed  to  oni* 
Savior  by  early  writers,  but  unrecorded  in . 
the  Evangehsts.  One  instance  occurs  in 
the  ^ew  Testament,  Acts  xx :  35 :  "  Remem- 
ber the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he 
said.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  re- 
ceive." 

The  following  are  given  as  specimens: 

1.  "He  who  longs  to  be  rich  is  like  a 
man  who  drinks  sea-water;  the  more  he 
drinks  the  more  thirst}^  he  becomes,  and 
never  leaves  off  drinking  till  he  perishes." 

2.  "  Pilate  says  to  him,  what  is  Truth? 


CRITICAL  JSrOTES.  105 

Jesus  sajs,  Truth  is  from  Heaven.  Pilate 
says,  Is  there  not  truth  upon  earth?  Jesus 
says  to  Pilate,  See  how  one  who  speaks  the 
truth  is  judged  by  those  who  have  power 
upon  earth." 

3.  "  On  the  same  day,  seeing  one  work- 
ing on  the  Sabbath,  he  said  to  him,  O  man, 
if  indeed  thou  knowest  what  thou  doest,  thou 
art  blessed;  but  if  thou  knowest  not,  thou 
art  accursed,  and  a  transgressor  of  the  law." 

4.  "  He  who  is  near  me  is  near  the  fire ; 
he  who  is  far  from  me  is  far  from  the  King- 
dom." 

5.  "  In  whatsoever  I  may  find  you,  in  this 
will  I  also  judge  you." 

6.  "  ^ever  be  j oy ful  except  when  ye  shall 
look  on  your  brother  in  love." 

(Hoffman,  Leben  Jesu;  also  The  Gospel 
according  to  the  Hebrews,  recovered,  trans- 
lated, annotated  and  analyzed  by  E.  B. 
Mcholson,  M.  A.,  London,  1879). 


(Note  f,  page  61.) 
The  Power  of  Life  and  Death. 

"  Although  the  Sanhedrim  had  passed  their 
sentence,  there  remained  a  serious  obstack' 
before  it  could  be  carried  into  execution. 
On  the  contested  j^oint  whether  the  Jews, 
tmder  the  Roman  government^  'possessed  the 
ponder  of  life  and  death,  it  is  not  easy  to  state 
the  question  loith  brevity  and  distinctness. 
IS^otwithstanding  the  apparently  clear  and 
distinct  recognition  of  the  Sanhedrim,  that 
they  had  not  authority  to  put  any  man  to 
death ;  notwithstanding  the  remarkable  con- 
currence of  rabbinical  tradition  with  this  dec- 
laration, which  asserts  that  the  nation  had 
been  deprived  of  the  power  of  life  and  death 
forty  years  before  the  destruction  of  the  city. 


CRITICAL  NOTES .  107 

many  of  the  most  learned  writers,  some  in- 
deed of  the  ablest  of  the  fathers,  from  argn- 
ments  arising  ont  of  the  practice  of  Roman 
provincial  jurisprudence,  and  from  later  facts 
in  the  evangelic  history  and  that  of  the  Jews, 
have  supposed  that,  even  if,  as  is  doubtful, 
they  were  deprived  of  this  power  in  civil, 
they  retained  it  in  religious  cases.  Some 
have  added,  that  even  in  the  latter  the  rati- 
fication of  the  sentence  by  the  Roman  gov- 
ernor, or  the  permission  to  carry  it  into  exe- 
cution, was  necessary.  According  to  this 
view,  the  object  of  the  Sanhedrim  was  to 
bring  the  case  before  Pilate  as  a  civil  charge; 
since  the  assumption  of  a  royal  title  and  au- 
thority implied  a  design  to  cast  off  the  Roman 
yoke.  Or,  if  they  retained  the  right  of  capi- 
tal punishment  in  religious  cases,  it  was  con- 
trary to  usage,  in  the  proceedings  of  the  San- 
hedrim, as  sacred  as  law  itself,  to  order  an 
execution  on  the  day  of  preparation  for  the 


108  ACTA  PILATI. 

Passovei".  As,  then,  they  dared  not  violate 
that  usage,  and  as  dehij  was  in  every  way 
dangerous,  either  from  the  fickleness  of  the 
people,  who,  having  been  momentarily 
Avrought  np  to  a  pitch  of  deadly  animosity 
against  Jesns,  might  again,  by  some  act  of 
power  or  goodness  on  liis  part,  be  carried 
away  back  to  his  side;  or  in  case  of  tumnlt, 
from  the  unsolicited  intervention  of  the  Ro- 
mans, their  plainest  course  was  to  obtain,  if 
possible,  the  immediate  support  and  assis- 
tance of  the  government. 

"  In  my  opinion,  formed  upon  the  study  of 
the  cotemporary  Jewish  history,  the  power 
of  the  Sanhedrim,  at  this  period  of  political 
changes  and  confusion,  on  this,  as  well  as 
on  other  points,  was  altogether  undefined. 
Under  the  Asmonean  princes,  the  sovereign, 
uniting  with  the  civil  and  religious  suprem- 
acy, the  high-priesthood  with  the  royal 
power,  exercised,  with  the  Sanhedrim  as  his 


CRITICAL  JSWTUS.  109 

council,  the  highest  poHtical  and  civil  juris- 
diction. Herod,  whose  authority  depended 
upon  the  protection  of  Rome,  and  was  main- 
tained ])y  his  wealth,  and  in  part  by  foreign 
mercenaries,  although  he  might  leave  to  the 
Sanhedrim,  as  the  supreme  tribunal,  the  ju- 
dicial power,  and,  in  ordinary  religious  cases, 
might  admit  their  unlimited  jurisdiction,  yet 
no  doubt  watched  and  controlled  their  pro- 
ceedings with  the  jealousy  of  an  Asiatic  des- 
pot, and  practically,  if  not  formally,  subjec- 
ted all  their  decrees  to  his  revision :  at  least 
he  would  not  have  permitted  any  encroach- 
ment on  his  own  supreme  authority.  In  fact, 
according  to  the  general  tradition  of  the 
Jews,  he  at  one  time  put  to  death  the  whole 
Sanhedrim :  and  since,  as  his  life  advanced, 
his  tyranny  became  more  w^atchful  and  sus- 
picious, he  was  more  likely  to  diminish  than 
increase  the  powers  of  the  national  tribunal. 
In  the  short  interval  of  little  more  than  thirty 


110  ACTA  PILATI. 

years  which  had  elapsed  since  the  death  of 
Herod,  nearly  ten  had  been  occupied  l3y  the 
reign  of  Archelans.  On  his  deposal,  the 
Sanhedrim  had  probably  extended  or  re- 
sumed its  original  functions,  but  still  the 
supreme  civil  authority  rested  in  the  Roman 
procurator.  All  the  commotions  excited  by 
turbulent  adventurers  who  infested  the 
country,  or  by  Judas  the  Galilean  and  his 
adherents,  would  fall  under  the  cognizance 
of  the  civil  governor,  and  were  repressed 
by  his  direct  interference,  ^or  can  capital 
religious  oiFences  have  been  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, since  it  is  evident  that  the  rigour 
of  the  Mosaic  Law  had  been  greatly  relaxed, 
partly  by  the  tendency  of  the  age,  which 
ran  in  a  counter  direction  to  those  acts  of 
idolatry  against  which  the  Mosaic  statutes 
were  chiefly  framed,  and  left  few  crimes  ob- 
noxious to  the  extreme  penalty.  Nor,  until 
the  existence  of  their  polity  and  religion  was 


CBITICAL  NOTES.  Ill 

threatened,  first  by  the  progress  of  Christ, 
and  afterward  of  his  religion,  would  they 
have  cared  to  be  armed  with  an  authority 
which  it  was  rarely,  if  ever,  necessary  or  ex- 
pedient to  put  forth  in  its  full  force. 

"  This,  then,  may  have  been,  strictly  speak- 
ing, a  new  case,  the  first  which  had  occurred 
since  the  reduction  of  Judea  to  a  Roman 
province.  The  Sanhedrim,  from  whom  all 
jurisdiction  in  political  cases  was  withdrawn, 
and  who  had  no  recent  precedent  for  the  in- 
fliction of  capital  punishment  on  an}^  religious 
charge,  might  think  it  more  prudent  (partic- 
ularly during  this  hurried  and  tumultuous 
proceeding,  which  commenced  at  midnight, 
and  must  be  dispatched  with  the  least  possible 
delay)  at  once  to  disclaim  any  authority 
which,  however  the  Roman  governor  seemed 
to  attribute  to  them,  he  might  at  least  prevent 
their  carrying  into  execution."  (Milmau,  in 
his  History  of  Christianity). 


(Note  g,  page  62.) 

Claudia  Procula,  the  Wife  of  Pilate. 

"  From  Matt,  xxvii :  19,  it  appears  that 
Pilate  had  his  wife  (named  probably  Prochi, 
or  Claudia  Procula)  with  him.  A  partial 
knowledge  of  Roman  history  might  lead  the 
reader  to  question  the  historic  ci*edibility  of 
Matthew  in  this  particular.  In  the  earlier 
periods,  and,  indeed,  so  long  as  the  common- 
wealth subsisted,  it  was  very  unusual  for  the 
governors  of  provinces  to  take  their  wives 
with  them  (Senec.  De  Controv.  25),  and  in 
the  strict  regulations  which  Augustus  in- 
troduced he  did  not  allow  the  favor  except 
in  peculiar  and  specified  cases  (Sueton.  Aug. 
21).  The  practice  however  grew  to  be  more 
and  more   prevalent,  and  was  (says  Winer, 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  113 

Keal-wort.  in  ^Pilate')  customary  in  Pilate's 
time. 

"  It  is  eviclent  from  Tacitus,  that  at  the 
time  of  the  death  of  Augustus,  Germanicus 
had  his  wife,  Agrippina,  with  him  in  Ger- 
many (Annal.  i:  40.  41;  comp.  iii:  33.  59; 
Joseph.  Antiq.  xx:  10.  1;  Ulpian.  iy:2). 
Indeed,  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Ti- 
berius, Germanicus  took  his  wife  with  him 
into  the  East.  Piso,  the  prefect  of  Syria, 
took  his  wife  also  along  with  him  at  the 
same  time  (Tacit.  Annal.  ii:  54.  55).  '  But,' 
says  Lardner  (i:152),  ^nothing  can  render 
this  (the  practice  in  question)  more  apparent 
than  a  motion  made  in  the  Poman  senate  by 
Severus  Csesena,  in  the  fourth  consulship  of 
Tiberius,  and  second  of  Drusus  Caesar  (A. 
D.  21),  that  no  magistrate  to  whom  any 
province  was  assigned,  should  be  accompa- 
nied by  his  wife,  except  the  Senate's  rejecting 
it,  and  that  with  some   indignation'    (Tacit. 


114  ACTA  FILATI. 

Annal.  iii:  33.  34).  The  fact  mentioned  in- 
cidently,  or  rather  imphed,  in  Matthew, 
being  thns  confirmed  by  full  and  unquestion- 
able evidence,cannot  fail  to  serve  as  a  corrob- 
orj|tion  of  the  evangelical  history."  (Kit- 
to's  Bib.  Lit.) 

"  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  a  heathen 
woman  had  the  courage  to  plead  the  cause 
of  our  Saviour  when  his  own  disciples  for- 
sook him,  and  when  the  Jewish  people  and 
authorities  thirsted  for  his  innocent  blood. 
It  is  equally  remarkable  that  she  and  her 
weak  husband,  clothed  with  the  authority  of 
the  Roman  law  and  justice,  should  character- 
ize the  condemned  Jesus  as  that  just  man. 
The  student  of  the  unconscious  prophecies 
of  heathenism  will  naturally  connect  this  ex- 
pression with  the  famous  passage  in  Plato's 
'  Republic,'  where  the  great  sage  of  Greece 
describes  the  ideal  of  a  just  man  as  one  Avho, 
without  doing  any  wrong,  may  assume  the 
appearance  of  the  grossest  injustice;  yea, 
who  '  shall  be   scourged,  tortured,   fettered, 


CRITICAL  NOTES,  115 

deprived  of  his  eyes,  and,  after  having  en- 
dured all  possible  sufferings,  fastened  to  a 
post,  and  must  restore  again  the  beginning 
and  prototype  of  righteousness."  (Plato's 
Works,  voL  iv,  p.  78,  sqq.  ed.  Ast.  p.  360. 
E.  ed.  Bip). 

"  Aristotle  also  says  of  the  perfectly  just 
man,  '  that  he  stands  far  above  the  political 
order  and  constitution  as  it  exists;  that  he 
must  break  it  wherever  he  appears.'  The 
prophecies  of  Greek  wisdom,  and  the  majesty 
of  the  Koman  law,  here  unite  in  a  Roman 
body,  the  wife  of  the  imperial  representative 
at  Jerusalem,  to  testify  to  the  innocence  and 
righteousness  of  Christ  in  the  darkest  hour 
of  his  trial  before  wricked  men.  She  was 
probably  a  prosel3^te  of  the  gate,  or  one  of 
those  God-fearing  heathen,  who,  without 
embracing  the  Jewish  religion,  were  longing 
and  groping  in  the  dark  after  ^the  unknown 
God.' "  (From  Dr.  Shaff's  additions  to  Lange 
on  Matthew,  p.  511). 


(Noteli,  pageCJS.) 


Gemoxi^e. 


This  expression  is  equivalent  to:  ''  You 
are  in'  danger  of  doing  what  will  seriously 
reflect  upon  Cffisar."  The  word  is  used  in 
Val.  Max.  (5.  9;  Liv.  38.  59;  Suet.  Tib.  53. 
(51;  Tacit.  Hist,  in:  74.  According  to 
Anthon,  the  Gemonice  scahe  w^ere  steps  at 
Kome,  near  the  prison  of  Tullianum,  down 
which  the  bodies  of  those  who  had  been  ex- 
ecuted in  prison  were  thrown  into  the  Forum, 
to  l)e  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  multitude. 


(Xote  i,  page  64.) 


The   Hand-Washing. 


"  Attracted  towards  the  court  by  this 
shout,  '  ^o  king  but  Caesar,'  we  find  the 
judge  just  in  the  act  of  yielding,  under  the 
popular  cry,  '  If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou 
art  not  Caesar's  friend;'  for  he  dreads  the  ut- 
terance of  such  a  charge,  however  absurd, 
in  the  ears  of  the  irritable  Tiberius,  his  mas- 
ter. Therefore  he  gives  sentence  as  they 
demand;  but  'he  took  water  and  washed  his 
hands  before  the  multitude  saying,  I  am  in- 
nocent of  the  blood  of  this  just  person.' 

"  Singular  paradox;  a  magistrate  innocent 
of  the  blood  of  one  whom  judicially  he  mur- 
ders,  while   declaring  him  just  in  the  same 


118  ACTA    PI L ATI. 

breath!  ^Oj  no!  Pilate,  think  not  with 
water  to  wash  off  that  stain  of  blood  from 
thy  hands.  For,  falling  npon  the  official 
hand  that  pretends  to  weigh  justice  in  the 
balance,  its  stain  hath  struck  too  deep  for 
any  water  cleansing.  "  The  untitled,  power- 
less, ]jrivate  man,  forced  by  the  mob  to  deeds 
of  cruelty,  might  perhaps  with  the  tears  of  in- 
genuous sorrow  wash  out  the  blood  spot !  But 
thou  art  imperial  Caesar's  legate,  Pilate. 
Thine  is  the  strong  arm  of  the  law,  flashing 
its  gleaming  sword,  by  God's  ordinance,  in 
the  defence  of  innocence,as  well  as  in  vengence 
on  guilt.  Thy  gorgeous  ermine  is  full  wide  to 
shelter  in  its  ample  folds  this  torn  and  bleeding- 
lamb  that  the  fierce  dogs  of  bigotry  are  thus 
savagely  pursuing.  With  all  thy  pompous 
])retence  to  dignity  and  chivalrous  Poman 
hojioui',  thou  art  but  a  miserable  pedlar  in 
blood !  Baser  than  Judas  whose  narrow  soul 
thought  thirty  pieces  of  silver  a  worthy  price. 


CBITICAL  j^OTES.  119 

thou  art  selling  him  over  again  for  a  worthless 
smile  from  these  ecclesiastical  bloodhonnds, 
whom  every  manl}^  instinct  of  thy  nature 
loathes  and  abhors !  Thou  art  a  poor  cow- 
ard, Pilate,  that  thou  fearest  such  a  mob, 
with  the  strong  arm  of  Caesar  to  defend  thee, 
and  the  broad  shield  of  eternal  justice  to 
hold  before  thee.  ]S"o,  Pilate,  no!  IN^ot  all 
the  waters  of  Jordan  that  washed  leprous 
JS'aaman  clean ;  not  all  the  waters  that  ever 
gushed  from  the  rills  of  Siloam;  not  all  the 
tears  of  sorrow  that  shall  flow  through  eter- 
nity for  thy  sin,  shall  ever  wash  oft'  that  stain 
of  blood ! 

"  Yet  how  common  seems  this  mistake 
of  Pilate,  that  the  unrighteous  judgement  of 
an  ofiicial,  given  under  pressure  of  strong 
temptations  from  personal  consideration, — 
either  of  desire  to  win  popular  favor;  or  ava- 
ricious hankering  after  gain;  or  the  impulse 
of  partisan  malice  or  party    obligations  may 


120  JCTA  PI  L  AT  I. 

be  atoned  for,  by  giving  the  innocent  the 
benefit  of  one's  personal  convictions  and  pro- 
fessions as  an  offset  against  the  damage  to 
him  of  one's  villainous  official  deed;  and  that 
it  is  enough  to  perform  a  little  penitential 
handwashingfor  the  filthy  job  done  to  popu- 
lar order!  How  little  do  men  seem  to  com- 
prehend the  solemn  truth,  that,  as  in  the 
Church,  under  his  revealed  law,  God  hath 
appointed  his  ministers  to  be  his  representa- 
tives, and  will  surely  punish  the  corrupt  and 
unfaithful  servants,  so  in  the  state,  under 
that  natural  law  which  he  hath  revealed  to 
all  men  alike.  '  The  powers  that  be  are  or- 
dained of  God;'  and  will  likewise  be  held 
accountable  to  God.  "That  the  magis- 
trate, called  by  the  public  voice  to  office, 
is  in  his  sphere,  ^the  minister  of  God  for 
good,'  to  the  upright  citizen,  and  the  min- 
ister of  God,  '  a  revenger  to  execute  wrath 
upon    him   that   doeth    evil.'      And    every 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  121 

curse  threatened  against  official  unfaithful- 
ness in  the  Church,  lies  with  all  its  force,in  the 
other  sphere  also,  against  the  magistrate  who 
misrepresents  and  caricatures  God's  essential 
justice.  Ye  cowardly  handwashers!  If  ye 
have  not  the  manl}^  courage  to  breast  the 
billows  of  popular  fury, and  make  your  official 
voice  heard  above  all  the  howls  of  the  mob, 
then  why  thrust  yourselves  into  places  to 
which,  obviously  God  hath  not  called  you?  If 
Tiberius,  moved  by  the  popular  clamor, 
threaten  you,  then  tell  Tiberius  and  the  mob, 
^we  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men,'  and 
go  into  exile  with  a  clear  conscience  for  your 
companion.  To  the  sort  of  men  whom  God 
calls  to  represent  him,  the  passion  of  Tibe- 
rius and  the  curses  of  the  mob  ai*e  sweet 
music  compared  with  the  accusings  of  con- 
science! Beware  how  ye  make  light  of 
bartering  justice,  either  for  the  popular  smile, 
or  for  place,  or  for  gold.     If  by  a  righteous 


122  ACTA  PILATI. 

Providence  ye  be  not  driven  to  Pilate's  doom 
of  exile,  and  suicide,  like  Judas;  yet,  be 
assured  that,  amid  the  curses  of  the  ruined, 
the  wails  of  the  heart-broken  and  the  moans 
of  the  murdered  ringing  in  your  ears,  ye  shall 
wash,  and  wash  in  vain  at  that  blood-spot 
throughout  eternity ! 

"  And,  on  the  other  hand,  when  public 
virtue  hath  come  to  such  a  pass,  that  the 
clamor  of  the  mob,  instead  of  the  covenanted 
law,  must  find  utterance  through  Pilate  on 
the  bench;  or,  that  popular  sentiment  regards 
Pilate's  use  of  his  official  authority  for  per- 
sonal ends,  either  of  avarice,  ambition  or 
passion,  as  a  venial  sin  of  natural  infirmity, 
that  a  little  hand-washing  may  atone  for; 
then  may  we  know  that  the  day  of  political 
doom  is  nigh  such  a  people,  even  at  their 
doors;  for  now,  'judgement  lingereth  not 
and  damnation  slumbereth  not.'  The  judg- 
ment on  such  a  people  hath  in  fact  already 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  123 

begun."  (From  Dr.  Stuart  Robinson's  elo- 
quent Discourses  of  Redemption.  D.  Ap- 
pleton  &  Co.,  X.  Y.,  1866). 


(Xotek,  page66.) 


DiONYSIUS. 


During  the  night  following  the  day  the 
Crucifixion  of  Jesus  took  place,  Pilate  sent 
a  brief  account  of  what  had  occurred  to  tlie 
Emperor,  as  he  himself  states  (see  page  68). 
The  Acta  was  not  written  until  some  months 
afterwards.  The  turbulence  of  the  Jews 
continued — the  beginnings  no  doubt  of  the 
great  rebellion  which,  in  the  days  of  Titus, 
led  to  the  destruction  of  their  capital  and  the 
dispersion  of  the  nation.  From  the  book  of 
Acts  in  the  ^N^ew  Testament,  we  learn  that 
the  preaching  of  the  Apostles  excited  great 
and  general  attention,  and  aftbrded  occasion 
for  repeated  attacks  upon  them  by  the  Phar- 


CRITICAL  NOTES.  125 

isees  and  Sadducees.  Amid  these  turmoils 
Pilate  trembled  for  his  own  position,  and 
wrote  this  detailed  and  full  communication 
to  Tiberius  in  order  to  set  himself  right  with 
the  authorities  at  Rome,  (see  p.  35,  5). 

During  the  interim  between  the  first  and 
second  writing,  a  period  probably  of  five  or 
six  months,  the  events  of  our  Savior's  life, 
teachings,  miracles,  persecution,  crucifixion, 
resurrection  and  ascension,  had  excited  in- 
tense interest  throughout  the  entire  East, 
and  thousands  of  converts  to  Christianity 
had  been  made. 

The  Dionysius  here  alluded  to  was  a 
heathen  philosopher  from  Athens,  who  was 
at  this  time  in  Heliopolis  in  Egypt.  There 
he  beheld  that  remarkable  eclipse  of  the  sun, 
as  he  termed  it,  which  took  place  at  the 
death  of  Christ,  and  exclaimed  to  his  friend 
Appolophanes,  "  Either  the  Divinity  suffers 
or  sympathizes  with  some  sufferer." 


126  ACTA  PILATI. 

In  that  day  there  was  a  military  road, 
which  had  been  built  by  the  Romans,  extend- 
ing from  the  principal  cities  of  Egypt  to 
Jerusalem,  the  course  of  which  is  to-day 
marked  by  Telegraph  posts,  crossing  the 
present  Suez  Canal  at  the  small  Arab  village 
of  Kantara,  near  the  lake  Menzaleh. 

It  is  not  at  all  to  be  w^ondered  at,  that  such 
a  singular  saying  of  a  great  and  learned  man 
should  soon  have  become  generally  known 
in  all  that  region;  and  it  is  not  strange  that 
Pilate  should  quote  this  to  Tiberius,  to  gi^  e 
the  greater  weight  to  his  representations. 


CLUTICAL  NOTES.  127 


(Note  1.  page  66.) 

The   First  Hour. 

"  Towards  the  first  hour  of  the  night  T 
threw  my  mantle  aronncl  me,  and  went  down 
into  the  city,  toAvards  the  gates  of  Golgotha/' 
i.  e.  at  seven  o'clock  P.  31.  This  passage 
of  the  Acta  gives  wonderful  vividness  to  the 
description,  and  shows  the  uneasiness  and 
remorse  that  already  filled  Pilate's  mind,  in 
view  of  the  events  of  that  terrilde  day. 


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